Antov’s career

The second Bulgarian player to sign for Bologna, Valentin is a right-footed central defender with a promising future ahead of him. Having recently turned 20, he’s already featured for his country’s senior side and experienced European competition: he’s made 15 appearances in the Europa League.

Blessed with great technical ability, he often played in midfield when coming through CSKA Sofia’s youth ranks but has since dropped back into defence, making an impressive contribution to his team’s build-up play. Antov is precise in his marking and an extremely athletic player. A charismatic figure, he was named as the captain of the club from the Bulgarian capital when he wasn’t even 20 years old.  His excellent performances this season saw him attract the interest of various European clubs, with Bologna winning the race to sign him. He’s joined the Rossoblù on an initial loan deal which will then become permanent.