Denis Drăguș

Denis Mihai Drăguș (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈdenis miˈhaj drəˈguʃ]; born 6 July 1999) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Süper Lig club Gaziantep, on loan from Belgian Pro League club Standard Liège, and the Romania national team.

Club career

Viitorul Constanța

Drăguș made his senior debut for Viitorul Constanța on 29 October 2015, in a 1–0 win over Botoșani in the Cupa României. He played his first Liga I game on 27 August 2017, coming on as a substitute for Aurelian Chițu in the 87th minute of a 1–2 loss to Concordia Chiajna.

On 28 November 2017, Drăguș scored his first career goal in a 2–3 loss to Botoșani, also in the national cup.

Standard Liège

On 7 August 2019, Drăguș joined Belgian team Standard Liège for a rumoured fee of €2 million plus 30% interest from a future transfer. He recorded his debut for Les Rouches on 1 September 2019, in a 0–1 loss to Anderlecht at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

On 15 September 2020, Drăguș agreed to a one-season loan with an option to buy at Crotone. He made his Serie A debut five days later, in a 1–4 defeat to Genoa. Drăguș totalled nine appearances during his stint in Italy, of which only one as a starter. Upon his return to Liège, Drăguș netted his first goal for Standard in a 2–5 loss to Antwerp on 8 August 2021. On 16 January 2022, he scored an 89th-minute equaliser in a 1–1 league draw at Anderlecht.

On 26 January 2023, Drăguș moved on loan with an option to buy to Serie B club Genoa. On 13 September 2023, Standard sent him on a season-long loan to Süper Lig club Gaziantep.

International career

On 10 September 2018, Drăguș made his full debut for Romania in a 2–2 UEFA Nations League draw with Serbia. The following year, he was meant to represent the national under-21 team in the 2019 European Championship, but was ruled out from the squad with a calcaneus fracture.

Drăguș scored his first senior international goal on 17 November 2022, in a 1–2 friendly loss to Slovenia.

Personal life

Drăguș's father, Mihai, was also a professional footballer.

In January 2021, his girlfriend Vanessa gave birth to a baby girl.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 May 2024

International

As of match played 26 March 2024

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Drăguș goal.

Honours

Viitorul Constanța

• Cupa României: 2018–19
• Supercupa României: 2019

References

External links

• Denis Drăguș at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
• Denis Drăguș at National-Football-Teams.com
• Denis Drăguș – UEFA competition record (archive)