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Mihai Popescu (footballer)

Mihai Popescu (born 7 May 1993) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga I club FCSB and the Romania national team.

Popescu started his senior career at Dunărea Călărași in 2013, while on loan from Dinamo București. He made his professional debut for the latter side in 2016, and had multiple loan spells before moving to Heart of Midlothian in 2020. After returning from Scotland, Popescu signed with Farul Constanța and won his first national title in the 2022–23 season. In 2024, his performances earned him a transfer to FCSB, the cross-town rival of his former club Dinamo București.

Internationally, Popescu registered his debut for Romania in March 2025, in a 0–1 home loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Club career

Dinamo București and various loans

Popescu joined Liga I club Dinamo București from Sporting Pitești in 2011. Following loans to Dunărea Călărași, Berceni, and again Dunărea Călărași, he recorded his debut for Dinamo on 11 August 2016, starting in a 2–1 away win over Voluntari in the Cupa Ligii. On 12 September, Popescu made his Liga I debut in a 1–2 away loss to ASA Târgu Mureș.

In the summer of 2017, Popescu was sent on loan to fellow league club Voluntari, where he spent half of season. Upon his return to Dinamo, he scored his first Liga I goal on 12 March 2018, in a 3–0 home defeat of Gaz Metan Mediaș. On 29 July that year, he netted in a 3–3 away derby draw with FCSB. Popescu moved abroad for the first time by being loaned to Scottish Premiership side St Mirren in January 2019. After St Mirren manager Oran Kearney left the team, he returned to Bucharest in July that year.

Heart of Midlothian and loan to Hamilton Academical

In September 2020, Popescu signed a two-year contract with Scottish Championship club Heart of Midlothian. After the team achieved promotion to the Scottish Premiership as league winners, on 31 August 2021 he was sent to Championship side Hamilton Academical on loan until the end of the campaign.

Farul Constanța

In July 2022, Popescu left Hearts as a free agent and returned to his native Romania, signing a two-year contract with Liga I side Farul Constanța. In his debut season, he made 30 league appearances and scored one goal to aid the club in winning the national title.

Popescu made his debut in European competitions on 12 July 2023, starting in a 1–0 home victory over Sheriff Tiraspol in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round (1–3 loss on aggregate). On 24 August that year, he scored his first European goal after coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 home win over HJK in the Europa Conference League play-off round (2–3 on aggregate).

FCSB

On 4 September 2024, Popescu signed a one-year contract with Romanian reigning champions FCSB, the city rivals of his former club Dinamo București. Club owner Gigi Becali stated that the transfer fee amounted to €250,000.

Popescu soon became a regular starter for the Roș-albaștrii, appearing in 12 Europa League matches—ten of them as a starter—across the group stage and knockout rounds. Domestically, he featured in 25 Liga I games, helping the club secure a second consecutive title.

International career

Popescu made his debut for the Romania national team on 21 March 2025, aged 31, starting in a 0–1 home loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Three days later, he scored in a 5–1 away thrashing of San Marino counting for the same competition.

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Popescu goal.

Honours

Dinamo București

Voluntari

Heart of Midlothian

Farul Constanța

FCSB

References

External links