Bulgaria captain Ivelin Popov is to sign for for FC Kuban, the Russian Premier League side said Saturday.
The striker had been linked to Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers before his move in 2010 to Turkish side Gaziantepspor from Bulgaria’s Litex Lovech.
Kuban said a transfer had been agreed with Gaziantepspor, and that Popov was in Kuban’s home city of Krasnodar and would sign after a medical.
“Ivelin is at the very peak of his footballing powers and, moreover, possesses impressive international experience, both at club level and with the national team,” Kuban sporting director Sergei Doronchenko said.
“The fact that he’s captain of his country’s team says a lot.”
Popov is Kuban's third new striker this summer after the team signed Romanian forward Marius Niculae and young Senegalese talent Ibrahima Balde, while Ivorian striker Lacina Traore was sold to Anzhi.
Popov has 31 caps for Bulgaria and has scored six times for his country.
