Bulgarian international Samuil Valchinov will continue his career at the Greek elite club Foinikas Syros. The club officially announced the acquisition of the 24-year-old outside hitter for the 2026/2027 season.
In the announcement from the Greek team, Valchinov is presented as a player with impressive physical attributes, strong qualities in attack and block, as well as a Bulgarian international with appearances in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
The 202 cm tall outside hitter began his volleyball career at Viktoria Volley, then moved to Levski Sofia, where he stayed for six seasons. In 2022/2023, he played for Dea Sport and reached the final of the Bulgarian Cup. A season in Montana followed, and in the summer of 2024, he took on his first foreign challenge, signing with the Italian club Macerata.
With Macerata, Valchinov was named the best outside hitter in Serie A2. Last season, he defended the colors of Ravenna, where he recorded 13 aces, 43 successful blocks, and 43% efficiency in attack. Over the last two seasons, the Bulgarian has a total of 60 matches in the second tier of Italian volleyball.
After signing his contract, Valchinov stated:
I am very happy to become part of a historic club like Foinikas Syros. What most convinced me to say "yes" was the team's vision and ambition to build a strong squad based on young players. The coach also played a very important role in my decision to come to Syros, as our conversations instilled great confidence in the project and the direction the club is developing.
Of course, the conditions offered by the team, as well as the championship itself, which is expected to be extremely competitive, also contributed to my choice. I can't wait to help the team achieve victories, bring joy to our fans, and make them proud.
The move to Foinikas Syros marks a new step in the development of the Bulgarian international. After two consecutive strong years in the Italian Serie A2, Valchinov will have the opportunity to establish himself in one of the most competitive leagues in the Balkans, and is expected to be among the key figures in the Greek club's squad in the new season.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
