One of the biggest surprises of the current Romanian top-flight season has been FC Dinamo 1948. Without the outstanding performances of their summer signing, Cătălin Cîrjan, it would have been difficult to imagine the Bucharest club reaching the playoff phase. His impact is well-reflected in the underlying numbers.

In recent years, the reputation of the Romanian football has declined significantly. Poor performances in the European competitions and financial struggles have cast a shadow over the league. While promising talents occasionally emerge, few believe that the SuperLiga is on the right track. However, some clubs continue to invest in young players, and certain individuals manage to establish themselves as key figures in their early twenties.

Cătălin Cîrjan is a prime example of this. This season, he has been one of the standout midfielders in the Romanian top tier, despite having an injury-riddled and challenging career path. He took his first footballing steps at Juniorul București before continuing his development at CS Viitorul Domnești. At 17, he moved to Arsenal’s academy, where he faced a completely new challenge. While he had been a top prospect in Romania, he became just one of many promising talents in England’s youth system. His progress was further hindered by serious knee injuries, forcing him to miss more than a year of foottball. Despite these setbacks, Arsenal continued to believe in him, offering him a contract extension. He even trained with the first team but never managed to make a senior appearance.

In 2023, he returned to Romania on loan, joining FC Rapid 1923, before moving to FC Dinamo 1948 on a permanent deal after his Arsenal contract expired. Dinamo, known as “Câinii Roșii” (The Red Dogs), narrowly avoided relegation last season through the playoffs, and few expected them to be competitive this year. However, under Željko Kopić, they have exceeded expectations, with Cîrjan playing a pivotal role. Operating primarily as a left-sided No. 8 or a classic No. 10, Cîrjan quickly became a key player in a team that follows an extremely direct playing style. Dinamo’s attacks are built mainly through the flanks, but due to a lack of high-quality wingers, they struggle to break down deep defensive blocks. This is evident from their low expected goals (xG) average of just 1.16 per game in the current season. Nevertheless, Kopić’s tactical philosophy justifies this approach. The Croatian coach avoids risky movements through the central areas to minimize turnovers, which were a major issue last season, often leading to dangerous counterattacks against his team.

ON-BALL PERFORMANCE

Dinamo’s transition-heavy game relies on players who provide progression & verticality, whether through carrying the ball forward or breaking opponents’ lines with clever passes. Cîrjan excels in both aspects, making him one of the most sought-after players by his teammates.

• Touches - 92nd percentile
• Touches in the attacking third - 95th percentile
• Touches in the penalty box – 96th percentile
• Passes received – 99th percentile
• Passes received in the attacking third – 95th percentile

Given that Dinamo’s midfield is not particularly secure in possession, Cîrjan relies heavily on his great ball carrying ability. This is a smart decision as he attempts and completes more progressive carries than any other player in the Romanian top flight. His first touch is excellent, and while he strongly favors his right foot when shooting, he is very comfortable using both feet for dribbling and for ball protection. Although, he still lacks elite physicality – a concern that was often highlighted at Arsenal – he has significantly improved in this aspect. Over the years, he has gained muscle mass, making him harder to beat in duels.

• Carries per 90 minutes (10,44) – 100th percentile
• Total carry distance per 90 (146,15m) – 99th percentile
• Progressive carries per 90 (2,91) – 99th percentile

Cîrjan’s technical ability and creativity allow him to beat defenders through dribbling or quick changes of direction. At worst, he earns fouls in dangerous areas, though Dinamo’s set-piece efficiency is among the worst in the league.

• Dribbles attempted per 90 (2,62) – 86th percentile
• Dribble success rate (81%) – 89th percentile
• Fouls won via dribbles – 69th percentile

His vision and playmaking ability stand out in chance-creation. While Dinamo struggles offensively, his low assist numbers (just one this season) are more a reflection of his teammates’ inefficiency than his own contributions.

• Passes into the penalty box per 90 (5.31) – 84th percentile
• Key passes per 90 (0.36) – 75th percentile
• Shot-creating actions per 90 (1.29) – 84th percentile
• Big chances created per 90 (0.22) – 70th percentile

Surprisingly, Cîrjan has been a consistent goal threat this season. He was never a prolific scorer at youth level, yet his seven goals this season make him one of Dinamo’s most reliable finishers.

• Shots per 90 (1.61) – 81st percentile
• Shots on target % (33%) – 70th percentile
• Average shot distance (17.58m) – 93rd percentile
• Shot quality (0.11 npxG/sh) – 85th percentile
• Non-penalty xG per 90 (0.15) – 88th percentile
• Expected goals per 90 (0.19) – 87th percentile
• Goals per 90 (0.25) – 93rd percentile

Although he was previously known for his long-range shooting ability, this season all of his goals have come from inside the box.

DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS

Dinamo’s defensive structure is built around forcing opponents wide, using the touchline as an extra defender. Kopić’s risk-averse approach prioritizes protecting central areas, demanding intensive running from his midfielders – even if their defensive actions are less visible in the advanced numbers.

Cîrjan is the third best in the squad in total duels contested, though he does not record particularly high numbers for tackles or interceptions. His primary role is to apply pressure in midfield, ensuring that opponents pass into isolated wide players, whom Dinamo can press collectively.

Despite frequent criticism for his off the ball workrate, Cîrjan remains disciplined and committed to his defensive duties. Ideally, he would operate higher up the pitch in a 4-4-2 system, where his defensive responsibilities would be reduced. However, Dinamo has even weaker defensive players whom Kopić needs to hide within the system, forcing Cîrjan to carry more responsibility than the others.

CONCLUSION

After an impressive regular season, Cîrjan faces major challenges in the play-offs. Since returning to Romania, he has expressed his desire to move abroad again, knowing that playing at a higher level is key to earning a national team call-up. Given his fantastic performances, it wouldn’t be surprising if clubs start showing interest in him, especially considering his Arsenal background. In recent years, Romanian talents have mostly moved to Italy, making Serie A a likely next step for him on his way to a top European league.