Nikola Iliev
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Iliyanov Iliev[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 June 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Yudelnik, Bulgaria[2] | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Botev Plovdiv | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2020 | Botev Plovdiv | ||
| 2020–2023 | Inter Milan | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2020 | Botev Plovdiv | 2 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → CSKA 1948 II (loan) | 1 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | → CSKA 1948 (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Botev Plovdiv II | 1 | (1) |
| 2024– | Botev Plovdiv | 45 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2023 | Bulgaria U19 | 14 | (3) |
| 2023– | Bulgaria U21 | 19 | (8) |
| 2022– | Bulgaria | 10 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 February 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:17, 30 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Nikola Iliyanov Iliev (Bulgarian: Никола Илиянов Илиев; born 6 June 2004) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and forward for Bulgarian First League club Botev Plovdiv and the Bulgaria national team. He was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation" list for 2021.[3]
Born on the Yudelnik near Ruse, Iliev began football career at Botev Plovdiv.[4] He made his professional debut for the team in a league match against Slavia Sofia on 29 September 2019.[5] In June 2020, he completed his move to Inter Milan, signing a four-year contract.[6]
On 31 May 2022, Iliev scored the winning goal for Inter U19 against Roma U19, making Inter Serie A Primavera champions.[7]
On 26 October 2022, he scored all four goals in Inter's 4–2 win against Viktoria Plzeň in the UEFA Youth League.[8]
On 5 February 2023, he was announced as Bulgarian Youth Footballer of 2022.[9]
On 10 August 2023, Iliev joined CSKA 1948 on a one-year loan with an option to make the transfer permanent.[10]
International career
Iliev received his first call-up for the Bulgaria senior national team on 5 September 2022, for the UEFA Nations League games against Gibraltar and North Macedonia on 23 and 26 September 2022.[11] He made his debut in the match against Gibraltar, won 5–1 by Bulgaria.[12]
