# Ionuț Nedelcearu

Ionuț Nedelcearu (Romanian pronunciation:; born 25 April 1996) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Russian Premier League club Akron Tolyatti and the Romania national team.

## Club career
### Dinamo București

Nedelcearu joined the youth system of Dinamo București at the age of seven. After playing for the reserves, he made his first-team debut on 31 October 2013 in a Cupa României match against Chindia Târgoviște, aged 17. On 13 December that year, he recorded his first Liga I appearance in a 4–0 home victory over ACS Poli Timișoara.
Nedelcearu netted his first goal for the Alb-roșii in a 3–2 away win against Pandurii Târgu Jiu on 28 October 2015, a game where he also scored in his own net.

### Ufa

On 15 February 2018, Nedelcearu signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Russian Premier League side FC Ufa. In the summer of 2019, press reported that several teams showed interest in signing him, including Roma and Zenit Saint Petersburg.

### AEK Athens

On 5 October 2020, Nedelcearu signed a four-year contract with Super League Greece club AEK Athens. On 1 November 2020, he scored his first goal, the equalizer of an eventual 2–1 home win against OFI.

### Crotone

On 16 July 2021, he moved to Italian club Crotone on a three-year contract, for a fee of €1.2 million.

### Palermo

On 27 July 2022, following Crotone's relegation to Serie C, Nedelcearu signed for Serie B club Palermo on a three-year deal. He made his debut with the rosanero in the 32nd finals of Coppa Italia against Torino.

### Akron Tolyatti

On 7 February 2025, Nedelcearu returned to Russia and signed with Akron Tolyatti.

## International career

On 27 March 2018, Nedelcearu made his full debut for Romania after being brought on as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 1–0 win over Sweden.
On 7 June 2024, he was selected in Romania's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024, but did not feature in any match.

## Personal life

Born in Bucharest, Nedelcearu attended the National University of Physical Education and Sport before moving abroad for the first time. His father, Marin, was also a professional footballer, while his mother, Geta, was a sprinter in her youth.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 16 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Dinamo București | 2013–14 | Liga I | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Dinamo București | 2014–15 | Liga I | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 |
| Dinamo București | 2015–16 | Liga I | 21 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 1 |
| Dinamo București | 2016–17 | Liga I | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 3 |
| Dinamo București | 2017–18 | Liga I | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 2 |
| Dinamo București | Total | Total | 89 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 111 | 6 |
| Ufa | 2017–18 | Russian Premier League | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Ufa | 2018–19 | Russian Premier League | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Ufa | 2019–20 | Russian Premier League | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Ufa | 2020–21 | Russian Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Ufa | Total | Total | 65 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 1 |
| AEK Athens | 2020–21 | Superleague Greece | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 1 |
| Crotone | 2021–22 | Serie B | 34 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 2 |
| Palermo | 2022–23 | Serie B | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 0 |
| Palermo | 2023–24 | Serie B | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| Palermo | 2024–25 | Serie B | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Palermo | Total | Total | 65 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 68 | 2 |
| Akron Tolyatti | 2024–25 | Russian Premier League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 281 | 11 | 22 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 329 | 12 |
* ↑ Appearances in Serie B – Promotion play-offs

### International

    As of 4 June 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Romania | 2018 | 3 | 0 |
| Romania | 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| Romania | 2020 | 4 | 2 |
| Romania | 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| Romania | 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| Romania | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Romania | 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 27 | 2 |
    As of 8 September 2021.
    Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nedelcearu goal.
List of international goals scored by Ionuț Nedelcearu :
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 11 November 2020 | Stadionul Ilie Oană, Ploiești, Romania | 12 | Belarus | 3–0 | 5–3 | Friendly |
| 2 | 11 November 2020 | Stadionul Ilie Oană, Ploiești, Romania | 12 | Belarus | 5–0 | 5–3 | Friendly |

## Honours

Dinamo București
* Cupa României runner-up: 2015–16
* Cupa Ligii: 2016–17