| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 February 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Left back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hermannstadt | ||
| Number | 98 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2014 | Città di Ciampino | ||
| 2014–2019 | Rapid Wien | ||
| 2015 | → FV Austria XIII (loan) | ||
| 2015–2018 | → Admira Wacker (loan) | ||
| 2018–2019 | → TWL Elektra (loan) | ||
| 2019–2020 | AVA Football Club | ||
| 2020–2021 | Parma | ||
| 2021–2022 | Kinetic Academy | ||
| 2022–2023 | Rangers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Rangers B | 12 | (0) |
| 2023– | Hermannstadt | 17 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Unirea Ungheni (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | Romania U15 | 3 | (0) |
| 2019 | Romania U16 | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | Romania U21 | 2 | (0) |
| 2025– | Romania | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 November 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 October 2025 | |||
Kevin Ciubotaru (born 2 February 2004) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a left back for Liga I club Hermannstadt. [1] Born in Italy, he plays for the Romania national team.
Ciubotaru’s early football journey took him from Italy to Austria, where he had brief stints at Rapid Vienna and Admira Wacker. However, he struggled to adapt due to language barriers and social isolation, prompting a move to the United Kingdom in search of better opportunities. [2]
In England, Kevin joined AVA Academy, a Romanian-run football school in London, and began attending multiple trials with professional clubs. He trained and trialed with teams such as Chelsea, Tottenham, Watford, West Ham, Southampton, Brentford, and others. During this period, he lived in modest conditions with his father, sharing a small room and even the same bed, while balancing college and daily commutes to training sessions. [3]
Despite initial setbacks, Ciubotaru was eventually invited to join Rangers F.C. after scouts discovered him by chance in a highlight video intended to showcase a teammate. He impressed during trials and signed a contract with the club until the summer of 2023, initially joining the U21 squad. [4]
In the summer of 2023, Kevin Ciubotaru, then 19 years old, signed a three-year contract with FC Hermannstadt after spending the preseason training with Dinamo Bucharest. Although he had initially agreed to join Dinamo — having passed trials and completed his medical — the move was delayed due to administrative hesitation from the club. As a result, Ciubotaru opted to join Hermannstadt, who offered him a firm deal. His contract included a progressive salary, starting at €2,000 per month in the first season and increasing to €5,000 by the third. The transfer came as Hermannstadt sought to fill the gap on the left side of defense following Raul Opruț’s departure to Kortrijk. [5]
Kevin Ciubotaru has represented Romania at various youth levels throughout his career. He first played for the Romania U15 team in 2018, earning 3 caps. The following year, he made one appearance for the Romania U16 team. In 2025, Ciubotaru began representing Romania U21, marking the latest chapter of his international career. His involvement with the national youth teams highlights his potential and ongoing development on the international stage. [6]
On 9 October 2025, Kevin Ciubotaru made his senior debut for the Romania national football team in a friendly match against Moldova. In that match, he was one of several players making their first appearance for the senior side, alongside Cătălin Cîrjan, Lisav Eissat, and Ștefan Baiaram. Ciubotaru’s strong performances in the Romanian league for Hermannstadt convinced coach Mircea Lucescu to call him up. [7]
Ciubotaru mainly operates as a left-back. [8]
Kevin Ciubotaru was born in Rome, Italy, to Romanian parents. His father, Silviu Ciubotaru, played a major role in his early development as a footballer. In Rome, Silviu was actively involved in the Romanian community and supported a local amateur football team called Dacica, where Kevin first began playing. He initially joined a church-affiliated football team in the Ciampino area, participating in an old inter-congregational tournament. [9]
He is a fan of AS Roma and Dinamo Bucharest, the latter being a family tradition. He also supports Arsenal and models his playing style after Theo Hernández, citing speed, dribbling, and stamina as his strengths. [10]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rangers B | 2022–23 | Lowland Football League | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Hermannstadt | 2023–24 | Liga I | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Liga I | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2025–26 | Liga I | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Total | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||||
| Unirea Ungheni (loan) | 2024–25 | Liga II | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 43 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 50 | 0 | ||||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | |||
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |