// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Chris Popov a good singer? Pop-ov-ally so.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Petrov Popov[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 October 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hartlepool United | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2021 | Manchester United | ||
| 2021–2024 | Leicester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2026 | Leicester City | 0 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Barrow (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2026 | → Morecambe (loan) | 18 | (7) |
| 2026– | Hartlepool United | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021 | Wales U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Wales U19 | 5 | (2) |
| 2023– | Wales U21 | 17 | (3) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:07, 24 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:30, 14 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Christopher Petrov Popov (born 26 October 2004) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a forward or midfielder for National League club Hartlepool United. He is a Wales under-21 international.
Club career
[edit]Leicester City
[edit]Popov joined the Leicester City academy in 2021 after being released by Manchester United.[2] On 27 August 2024, he made his senior debut for the club as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 4–0 EFL Cup victory against Tranmere Rovers.[3]
On 30 August 2024, Popov joined EFL League Two side Barrow on a season-long loan.[4] He made his club and league debut a day later, starting in a 1–0 away win against Harrogate Town.[5] He made 12 appearances in all competitions for Barrow.[6]
On 21 January 2026, Popov joined National League side Morecambe on loan until the end of the season.[7] He made 18 appearances for Morecambe, scoring seven times and contributing four assists.[6]
On 24 May 2026, he was released by Leicester City following their relegation from the Championship.[8]
Hartlepool United
[edit]On 27 June 2026, he signed for National League club Hartlepool United on a deal until June 2028.[6]
International career
[edit]Born in Wales, Popov is of Bulgarian descent and is eligible to play for both Wales and Bulgaria.[9][10]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 16 April 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leicester City U21 | 2022–23[11] | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24[12] | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2024–25[13] | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||||
| Leicester City | 2024–25[13] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Barrow (loan) | 2024–25[13] | League Two | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Morecambe (loan) | 2025–26[14] | National League | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 7 |
| Career total | 29 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 7 | ||
- 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ↑ "C. Popov". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ↑ Pawley, Luke (16 April 2022). "Leicester City may already have the next Jamie Vardy in their ranks". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ↑ "Leicester City vs Tranmere Rovers: League Cup". BBC Sport. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ↑ "Leicester's Popov loaned to Barrow". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ↑ "Leicester's Popov loaned to Barrow". BBC Sport. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Pools sign Wales U21 international Chris Popov". Hartlepool United FC. 27 June 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- ↑ "Morecambe sign Leicester's Popov on loan". BBC. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Leicester City: Jordan Ayew and Ricardo Pereira among 10 players leaving". BBC Sport. 24 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ Нападател с български произход в "Лестър"
- ↑ И Крис Попов с шанс да играе за България
- ↑ "Games played by Chris Popov in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ↑ "Games played by Chris Popov in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Games played by Chris Popov in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ↑ "Games played by Chris Popov in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
External links
[edit]- Chris Popov at Soccerway
- 2004 births
- Living people
- British people of Bulgarian descent
- Welsh men's footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Leicester City F.C. players
- Barrow A.F.C. players
- 21st-century Welsh sportsmen
- Wales men's under-21 international footballers
- Morecambe F.C. players
- Hartlepool United F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players