13 Bulgarian volleyball players in foreign clubs have already guaranteed their participation in CEV European club tournaments.

Bulgarian presence in the CEV European club tournaments for the 2026/27 season will once again be significant. Currently, 13 Bulgarian volleyball players competing for foreign clubs have already secured a guaranteed spot in the Champions League, CEV Cup, and Challenge Cup. In addition to them, dozens of players from the six Bulgarian clubs, who will also represent our country in the European tournaments, should be included.
Champions League
The most prestigious European club tournament will feature six Bulgarian volleyball players.
In the men's competition, Greek club 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 club 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 club Eczacibasi Peron Istanbul.
CEV Cup
In the second strongest European club tournament, Bulgaria will have five representatives.
Greek club Milon Athens will rely on young opposite hitter Mario Petkov, son of former national team player Petko Petkov.
Turkish club Halkbank Ankara will feature 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 club Panionios Nea Smyrni.
Romanian club Dinamo Bucharest will rely on a Bulgarian duo in the persons of Petya Barasova and Gergana Kyoseva.
Challenge Cup
Another six Bulgarian volleyball players will be part of the third strongest European club tournament.
French club Tourcoing Lille Métropole will rely on Venislav Antov, and German club SWD Powervolleys Düren – on middle blocker Preslav Petkov.
Greek club Olympiacos will be represented by national team player Martin Atanasov, and Polish club Ślepsk Malow Suwałki – by Asparuh Asparuhov.
In the women's competition, Darina Naneva will play for French club Virtus Le Cannet, and Kristina Yordanova, a youth product of Perun Varna, will defend the colors of Hungarian club UTE Budapest.
In addition to these 13 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, Neftochimic 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 players in European club tournaments will be significantly higher, as it 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 members sign with participants in European club competitions.
The draw for the three European club tournaments will be held onJuly 15 at 13:00 Bulgarian timeat the headquarters of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV).

photo: Nikolay Varadinov