Steaua Bucharest has agreed to sell its star Nicolae Stanciu to Belgian club Anderlecht Brussels for almost EUR 10 million. Stanciu will thus become the most expensive football player ever transferred from Romania to a foreign club, according to local digisport.ro.

Steaua’s owner, Romanian businessman Gigi Becali, signed the transfer contract on Sunday evening (August 28). Anderlecht will pay EUR 4 million on the spot, EUR 3.8 million after ten months, and another EUR 2 million if Stanciu plays at least half of Anderlecht’s matches in any of the following seasons.

Nicolae Stanciu, 23, is an attacking midfielder. He made his debut at Unirea Alba Iulia and also played for FC Vaslui before joining Steaua in 2013. His career took off in the 2015-2016 season, when Stanciu became Steaua-s top scorer, with 14 goals in 39 matches. He has already scored 4 goals this season, helping his team qualify to Europa League group stage.

His good performance at the club also got him to the national team, for which Stanciu has played 7 matches and scored 4 goals.

Nicolae Stanciu is the second Steaua player who joins Anderlecht after the Belgian club bought the 27-year old winger for EUR 3 million in July.

The previous record for most expensive transfer abroad was also held by Steaua Bucharest. In 2013, defender Vlad Chiriches transferred from Steaua to English club Tottenham Hotspur for some EUR 9.5 million.

editor@romania-insider.com