Bulgarian presence in CEV European club tournaments in the 2026/27 season will once again be significant. As of now, 13 Bulgarian volleyball players competing for foreign clubs already have a guaranteed spot in the Champions League, CEV Cup, and Challenge Cup. To them should be added the dozens of players from the six Bulgarian clubs who will also represent our country in the European tournaments.
Champions League
The most prestigious European club tournament will feature six Bulgarian volleyball players.
In the men's competition, Greek Panathinaikos will rely on middle blocker Nikolay Kolev.
Italian powerhouse Lube Civitanova will be represented by brothers Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov, who will be among the most attractive duos in the tournament.
Polish Bogdanka LUK Lublin, the reigning Challenge Cup winner after their triumph in the final against Lube Civitanova, will rely on national team player Alex Grozdanov.
In the women's competition, Bulgaria will have one representative "," Iva Dudova, who will play for Turkish Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul.
CEV Cup
In the second strongest European club tournament, Bulgaria will have five representatives.
Greek Milon Athens will rely on young opposite hitter Mario Petkov, son of former national team player Petko Petkov.
Turkish Halkbank Ankara will have two Bulgarian names in its squad "," the legend Matey Kaziyski and young Denislav Bardarov.
In the women's competition, Elitsa Atanasijevic will wear the jersey of Greek Panionios Nea Smyrni.
Romanian Dinamo Bucharest will rely on a Bulgarian duo, namely Petya Barakova and Gergana Kyoseva.
Challenge Cup
Six more Bulgarian volleyball players will be part of the third strongest European club tournament.
French Tourcoing Lille Métropole will rely on Venislav Antov, and German SWD Powervolleys Düren "," on middle blocker Preslav Petkov.
Greek Olympiacos will be represented by national team player Martin Atanasov, and Polish Ślepsk Malow Suwałki "," by Asparuh Asparuhov.
In the women's competition, Kristina Yordanova, a youth product of Perun Varna, will defend the colors of Hungarian UTE Budapest.
In addition to these Bulgarian volleyball players in foreign clubs, Bulgaria will also be represented by six clubs "," Levski Sofia (men) and Maritsa Plovdiv (women) in the Champions League, Neftochimik 2010 Burgas in the CEV Cup, as well as Lokomotiv Avia Plovdiv, CSKA Sofia, and Levski Sofia (women) in the Challenge Cup. This means that the number of Bulgarian athletes in European club tournaments will be significantly larger, as it also includes all volleyball players from the domestic participants. Furthermore, Levski and Maritsa have guaranteed participation in European club tournaments, as even if they are eliminated in the Champions League qualifiers, they will continue their participation in CEV tournaments.
The summer transfer window in most European championships is still open, which means that the number of Bulgarian volleyball players in foreign clubs may increase in the coming weeks if more of our national team players sign with participants in European club competitions.
The draw for the three European club tournaments will be held onJuly 15 at 1:00 PM Bulgarian timeat the headquarters of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV).
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
