Martin Georgiev

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Pavlov and the family name is Georgiev.
Martin Georgiev
Personal information
Full name Martin Pavlov Georgiev
Date of birth (2005-09-24) 24 September 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth Sofia, Bulgaria
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 AEK Athens
Number 15
Youth career
2015–2021 Slavia Sofia
2022–2023 → Barcelona Juvenil (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Slavia Sofia II 17 (0)
2021–2025 Slavia Sofia 85 (3)
2026– AEK Athens 0 (0)
International career‡
2021–2022 Bulgaria U17 11 (2)
2021–2023 Bulgaria U19 15 (2)
2022– Bulgaria U21 14 (0)
2025– Bulgaria 3 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 December 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025

Martin Pavlov Georgiev (Bulgarian: Мартин Павлов Георгиев; born 24 September 2005) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Super League Greece club AEK Athens and the Bulgaria national team. He was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation" list for 2022.[2]

Club career

Born in Sofia, Georgiev started his career at the local club Slavia. He made his professional debut for the team on 11 November 2021 in a league match against CSKA Sofia.[3] One week later, he played his second league match against Ludogorets, but was sent off with a straight red after a heavy foul.[4] In May 2022, it was reported that Barcelona were interested in signing Martin.[5] On June 1, Slavia's owner, Ventseslav Stefanov, announced that the deal was almost completed and Martin would sign with Barcelona for 2 years, however, the final agreement between the two clubs ended up being a one year loan deal with Barcelona's Juvenil A team.[6]

On 15 July 2022, Georgiev joined Barcelona Juvenil A on loan with an option to buy.[7] In September of the same year, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2005 worldwide.[8] On 4 July 2023, Slavia announced his return to the team from Barça following the completion of his loan.[9]

International career

Georgiev represented Bulgaria U17 at the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship where the team finished last in the group stage.[10] On 14 October 2025, he earned his first cap for the senior national team, playing the full 90 minutes and conceding a last-minute penalty in the 0–4 away loss against Spain in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 1 May 2022.[12]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Slavia Sofia 2021–22 First League 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Career total 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 0

References

  1. ^ "Profile at PFCSlavia.com".
  2. ^ "Next Generation 2022: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  3. ^ ЦСКА изпусна питомното срещу Славия на Българска армия
  4. ^ Мартин Георгиев остави Славия с 10 души след безумен червен картон
  5. ^ Славия и Барселона се договориха за Мартин Георгиев, трансферът е въпрос на часове
  6. ^ Венцеслав Стефанов: Мартин Георгиев ще бъде вторият българин в Барса
  7. ^ Официално: Мартин Георгиев е футболист на Барселона
  8. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (28 September 2022). "Next Generation 2022: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  9. ^ Мартин Георгиев с горещ коментар и първи думи пред БЛИЦ TV след завръщането от Барселона!
  10. ^ Ето състава на България U17 за Европейското
  11. ^ Drumchev, Philip, ed. (14 October 2025). "България не издържа пред испанската класа - седми пореден Мондиал без нас". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  12. ^ Martin Georgiev at Soccerway
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Georgiev