Nikolay Ivanov, the volleyball player born in Dobrich, will make his first step outside Bulgaria after signing a contract with the Italian teamCambi Reali Cantùfor the 2025/2026 season. The Italian team officially presented him. The 18-year-old outside hitter, born in 2006, will play alongside the experienced Andrea Bacco.
Until now, Ivanov defended the colors of his home club, participating in the fbet Super Volley, but his performances did not go unnoticed on the international stage. With excellent physique and impressive jump, he is already part of the senior national team as a "special observer," under the guidance of the renowned Italian specialist Gianlorenzo Blengini. Furthermore, he is a key figure in Bulgaria's youth national team.
Before starting preparations with his new club, Ivanov, who is a silver medalist from the U20 Men's Euro 2024, will have a busy summer in the national jersey. He will participate in the U22 Men's European Championship qualifiers, which will be held from July 11 to 13 in Samokov. After that, the U21 Men's World Championship awaits him in Jiangmen, China (August 18–31).
Cantù's head coach,Alessio Zingoni, expressed high praise for the young talent:
"Nikolay is a player who immediately caught my attention. Despite his youth, he is technically very mature. He makes few unforced errors and feels intuitively good on the court. He is good in every element of the game and impressed me with that. On a human level, he is also very calm and motivated – this was a key factor in our decision to bring him to Cantù."
Ivanov himself also shared his first impressions:
"Before making my choice, I spoke with my manager, who told me many good things about Cantù. I watched a few matches and liked the level of play. I believe this is an excellent opportunity for me to develop. I have already spoken with the coach and I am impressed by his preparation. My goal is to work hard, to improve as both a player and a person. I also hope to help the team achieve good results."
With this transfer, Ivanov becomes another Bulgarian name who will seek recognition on the Italian volleyball scene – one of the most prestigious in Europe.
Photo: Nikolay Varadinov
