Stephan Negru

Stephan Negru

Personal information
Full name	Stephan Negru [1]
Date of birth	(2002-07-24) 24 July 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Ireland
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Salford City (on loan from Oxford United)
Number	5
Youth career
	Lourdes Celtic
2017–2022	Shelbourne
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022	Shelbourne	6	(1)
2023–	Oxford United	15	(0)
2024–2025	→ Salford City (loan)	20	(0)
2025–	→ Salford City (loan)	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:15, 29 January 2025 (UTC)

Stephan Negru (born 24 July 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Salford City on loan from EFL Championship club Oxford United.

Club career

Negru started his career with Lourdes Celtic, before moving to Shelbourne in 2017. ^[2] Having spent six years playing youth football for Shelbourne, he made his debut in August 2022, playing 90 minutes in a 4–0 FAI Cup win over Bonagee United. ^{[2] [3]} He marked his debut in the League of Ireland Premier Division with a goal; the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Finn Harps. ^{[2] [3]}

On 15 December 2022, it was announced that Negru would join EFL League One side Oxford United on 1 January 2023. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]} Upon joining, he stated his intention to progress to the first team as soon as possible. ^[6] He was named on the bench for Oxford United's FA Cup tie against Arsenal, but did not feature as his side lost 3–0. ^[8] He made his first-team and League One debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on 7 April 2023, ^[9] and his full debut in the following match, a goalless away draw at Port Vale on 9 April, in which he suffered a suspected broken nose, ^[10] though later scans showed there was no fracture. ^[11]

After an injury to Jordan Thorniley early in the 2023–24 season led to a run of first-team appearances, ^[12] Negru's promising form reportedly attracted interest from Premier League teams, prompting the club to extend his contract in September 2023. ^[13]

In June 2024 he signed on loan for Salford City for the 2024–25 season. ^[14] On 8 January 2025 his season-long loan was terminated and he was recalled to Oxford United amid a defensive injury crisis at his parent club. ^[15] On 23 January however, he returned on loan to Salford City for the remainder of the season. ^{[16] [17]}

International career

Though multiple sources cite his place of birth as Florești, Moldova, Negru himself has stated that he was born in Ireland. ^[18] He is, however, eligible to represent Moldova as his parents are both Moldovan. ^[18] He has held discussions with both nations, with Moldova looking to call him up for the national team. ^[19]

Style of play

An aggressive defender, who describes his defending style as "old-school", Negru lists John Terry as a player he models his game on. ^{[6] [20]} He is noted for his heading and tackling abilities, and is described as a physical player. ^[20]

Personal life

Regarding his Moldovan heritage, his surname Negru literally means "black" in the Romanian language. This became a center of discussion when, on 24 September, IShowSpeed called Negru via FaceTime during a livestream. The two engaged in a comical conversation regarding FIFA cards and his surname, to which Negru clarified the pronunciation of his name and his background. The call concluded with the two playfully barking at each other, IShowSpeed's well-known signature. During the call, however, Negru's number was accidentally leaked to the audience. ^{[21] [22]}

Career statistics

As of 28 January 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Shelbourne	2022 [23]	LOI Premier Division	6	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
Oxford United	2022–23 [24]	League One	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2023–24 [25]	League One	13	0	1	0	1	0	4 [a]	0	19	0
	2024–25 [26]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		15	0	1	0	1	0	4	0	21	0
Salford City (loan)	2024–25 [26]	League Two	22	0	0	0	1	0	1 [a]	0	24	0
Career total			43	1	4	0	2	0	5	0	54	1

1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

References

1. "Club List of Registered Players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
2. "Stephan Negru, debut cu gol în campionatul Irlandei!" [Stephan Negru, debut with a goal in the Irish championship!]. fmf.md (in Romanian). 1 October 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
3. "Stephan Negru departs Shels". Shelbourne F.C. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
4. "Stephan Negru To Join Oxford United". Oxford United F.C. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
5. "Stephan Negru: Oxford United sign Shelbourne defender". BBC Sport. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
6. Rice, Liam (16 December 2022). "Oxford United new signing Stephan Negru eyes first team place". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
7. Doyle, Garry (15 December 2022). "Shels lose talented defender Negru to Oxford United". The42.
8. "Stephan Negru a fost pentru prima oară inclus în raportul de joc al clubului Oxford United. Adversar a fost Arsenal" [Stephan Negru was for the first time included in the match report of the Oxford United club. The opponent was Arsenal]. moldfootball.com (in Romanian). 10 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
9. Rice, Liam (7 April 2023). "Oxford United hold Sheffield Wednesday in Liam Manning first home game". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 8 April 2023. Moore took a bang to the head though in the aftermath of his chance and was replaced by Stephan Negru, on for his U's debut.
10. Williams, Chris (9 April 2023). "REPORT Port Vale 0 Oxford United 0". Oxford United F.C. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
11. McCadden, Mark (11 April 2023). "Former Shelbourne defender receives update after getting elbow to the nose". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
12. "Stephan Negru: Oxford United defender signs new long-term deal to stay at the club". BBC Sport. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
13. Rice, Liam (8 September 2023). "Stephan Negru signs new contract with Oxford United". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
14. "Stephan Negru: Salford City sign Oxford United defender on loan". BBC Sport. 29 June 2024.
15. "U's recall defender Negru as keeper McGinty leaves". BBC Sport. 9 January 2025.
16. "Stephan Negru is back on loan". www.salfordcityfc.co.uk. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
17. "Salford City sign Leyton Orient's Lewis Warrington and re-sign Oxford United defender on loan". BBC Sport. 23 January 2025.
18. Rice, Liam (21 December 2022). "Oxford United's Stephan Negru on playing international football". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
19. McCadden, Mark (2 October 2022). "Moldova chasing top young Shelbourne star". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
20. Rice, Liam (4 January 2023). "Insight on Oxford United's former Shelbourne defender Stephan Negru". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
21. "Trolls mock IShowSpeed for his 'yellow teeth' as he grills Stephan Negru over his last name". MEAWW. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
22. Prasad, Sneh (25 September 2023). ""I am so sorry bro," IShowSpeed leaks Irish footballer Stephan Negru's phone number on livestream". FirstSportz. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
23. Stephan Negru at Soccerway
24. "Games played by Stephan Negru in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
25. "Games played by Stephan Negru in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
26. "Games played by Stephan Negru in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2024.