Four Bulgarian League players Sheffield United could look at | OneFootball

The Sheffield United owners’ AI data-driven scouting approach has been the talk of the town lately. Especially, the fact that such a vast tool like AI seems to have a preference for all things Bulgarian.

Here are four players with good data that play in the Bulgarian League for your deliberation.

Marin Petkov

Born in the Bulgarian town of Etropole in October 2003. Petkov is like a Bulgarian Ben Osborn. At least in the sense that he’s versatile.

The 21-year-old is an attacking midfielder but has also played as a winger and a wing-back. At just 21, Petkov has 30 goals and 12 assists to his name in 168 appearances for Levski Sofia.

Sofia the team he’s been with his whole career finished second last season. With Petkov scoring nine goals and getting five assists in the league. Finishing the season having played 34 matches.

In 2021-2022, Petkov won the Bulgarian Cup with Levski Sofia.

Petkov also developed through the national team age groups. Going up from U17, U19, and U21s. He is now a full international and has played 16 games for the national team getting 3 goals.

On top of this Petkov has been rumoured with a move to AC Milan last December. With other clubs like Sturm Graz and Anderlecht reportedly taking an interest.

Nikola Iliev

We might as well already announce this one. His main credentials? He plays for Botev Plovdiv.

There’s more to it but that is one thing going in Nikola Iliev’s favour. The 21-year-old (recently celebrated his birthday on 6 June) has already made a move out of Bulgaria.

Named as part of The Guardian’s Next Generation 2021 Top 60 list, Iliev left Botev after 2 appearances to join Inter Milan.

At Inter Milan Iliev shone in the academy. Beginning with a strong six goals and two assists for the U18s in just 19 matches. Before improving to 30 goal contributions in 58 matches for the U19s providing 16 goals and 14 assists.

In February 2023, Iliev was announced as the Bulgarian Young Player of the Year for 2022. He also began playing for the national team in 2022 and has made eight appearances so far.

Iliev moved back to Botev Plovdiv in the 2024-2025 season. The attacking midfielder contributed three goals and two assists in 34 league matches.

Santiago Godoy

An honourable mention for a slightly older player. 24-year-old striker Santiago Godoy finished last season as the top goalscorer in the Bulgarian top flight.

Godoy originally from Argentina scored 17 goals and got one assist for Beroe. A great achievement considering Beroe finished 8th in the league in 2024-2025. With his 17 goals Godoy scored almost half of Beroe’s total goals in the league last season.

In an important stat to help him fit in to the current Blades squad, Godoy also got nine yellow cards last season.

Originally coming through the academies of Boca Junior and Racing Club, Godoy’s other good goalscoring season was with Chacarita Juniors where he scored 11 goals in 29 games.

Chung Nguyen Do

Chung Nguyen Do is a central-midfielder for Slavia Sofia. Born in the capital of Bulgaria to Nguyen Do joined CSKA Sofia’s academy aged six.

He then moved to his current club Slavia Sofia. Where the young midfielder began as a goalkeeper before deciding he’d like to become more involved in the game. He plays predominantly as a defensive midfielder.

In 2022, there were reports that Nguyen Do had impressed the scouts of Barcelona’s La Masia. Although, he remained with Slavia Sofia.

Last season Nguyen Do played 33 times for Slavia Sofia scoring two goals and getting one assist. With a crucial goal coming in the relegation group phase of the season. In total he has played 61 times for Slavia Sofia despite only recently turning 20.

He has also been capped at youth level for Bulgaria for the U17s, U19s and U21s.

Takeaways

Ultimately, the difference between the Championship and the Bulgarian League is fairly sizeable. On the one hand players in the Bulgarian League can come with European competition experience. But the Championship has teams in it including Sheffield United that have relegation money from arguably the strongest league in the world.

Therefore, any player brought across from leagues like Bulgaria will need a fair chance to adjust to life in the EFL. Personally, if the players are signed to be developed potentially in the U21s and don’t cost a fortune. The reward could be worth the risk. In terms of signing players ready for the first-team a fair amount of scouting might be needed first.

Although, players like Godoy who put up top goal-scoring figures from mid-table may be the sort of players you could take a risk on at the older end of being aged 24.

Ultimately, like most things in life, balance is key. Sign some Championship experience and bring in some young unknowns. What’s the worst that could happen?