Cătălin Alin Vulturar (born 9 March 2004) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga I club Rapid București.

Cătălin Vulturar
Personal information
Full name Cătălin Alin Vulturar[1]
Date of birth (2004-03-09) 9 March 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Arad, Romania[1]
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Rapid București
Number 15
Youth career
0000–2019 UTA Arad
2020–2024 Lecce
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 UTA Arad 3 (0)
2023–2024 Lecce 0 (0)
2024– Rapid București 0 (0)
2024UTA Arad (loan) 9 (0)
International career
2016 Romania U16 4 (0)
2021 Romania U18 2 (0)
2022–2023 Romania U19 6 (0)
2024– Romania U20 3 (0)
2023– Romania U21 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Club career

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Born in Arad, Romania, Vulturar started his career with UTA Arad, making his first team debut at the age of fourteen.[2] After rejecting an offer from FCSB, and trialling with Barcelona and Liverpool, he signed for Italian side Lecce in 2020.[3] In completing the transfer, he became the most expensive sale in UTA Arad history.[4][5]

In October 2021, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2004 worldwide.[6] He has since been named captain of Lecce's under-19 side.[7]

On 1 February 2024, Lecce announced Vulturar's transfer to Rapid București.[8] Lecce reserved 40% of the sell-on fee and an option to match a purchase offer. Three weeks later, in order to gain playing minutes and adapt to Romanian football, he was sent on loan to UTA Arad until the summer, due to a huge number of midfielders in the team squad.[9]

International career

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Vulturar has represented Romania at under-18 and under-19 level.[1]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 12 May 2024.[10]
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
UTA Arad 2018–19 Liga II 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2019–20 2 0 1 0 3 0
Total 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
Rapid București 2023–24 Liga I 0 0 0 0
2024–25 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
UTA Arad (loan) 2023–24 Liga I 9 0 9 0
Career total 12 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
Notes

Honours

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UTA Arad

Lecce

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Cătălin Vulturar at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Viitor pentru Arad! Vulturar a debutat în Liga a 2-a la doar 14 ani și nouă luni chiar pe terenul unde a debutat Hagi" [Future for Arad! Vulturar debuted in the 2nd League at only 14 years and nine months on the very ground where Hagi debuted]. specialarad.ro (in Romanian). 9 December 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Cine e singurul fotbalist român inclus de The Guardian în TOP 60 cei mai talentați tineri din lume » În 2018 a refuzat să semneze cu FCSB!" [Who is the only Romanian footballer included by The Guardian in the TOP 60 most talented young people in the world » In 2018 he refused to sign with FCSB!]. gsp.ro (in Romanian). 8 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  4. ^ Sfara, Leo (5 October 2020). "Cătălin Vulturar lasă UTA pentru Lecce!" [Cătălin Vulturar leaves UTA for Lecce!]. aradon.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Vulturar, at the parting time with UTA and Lecce: "I wanted to make my debut in League 1, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to get into Italian football, one of my favorites"". tekdeeps.com. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  7. ^ Sperti, Andrea (2 June 2022). "Talento e leadership: il futuro del Lecce si chiama Catalin Vulturar" [Talent and leadership: the future of Lecce is called Catalin Vulturar]. pianetalecce.it (in Italian). Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  8. ^ "CESSIONE VULTURAR" [VULTURAR ASSIGNMENT] (in Italian). US Lecce. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Oficial: Cătălin Vulturar, noul jucător de la UTA! Fotbalistul nu a apucat să debuteze pentru Rapid" [Oficial: Cătălin Vulturar, the new player from UTA! The footballer did not get to make his debut for Rapid]. digisport.ro (in ROU). 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  10. ^ Cătălin Vulturar at Soccerway