Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today the Club has acquired midfielder Filip Krastev on loan from Lommel SK of the Belgian Challenger Pro League until June 2024. The loan agreement includes a permanent transfer option. Krastev will be added to the Club’s roster pending receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“Filip is an incredibly talented midfielder whose dynamic qualities and technical ability fit well within our game model”, LAFC Co-President and GM John Thorrington said. “We are excited to welcome Filip to LAFC as he takes the next step of what I am confident will be a successful career.”
Krastev, 21, joins LAFC after spending the past two years with Levski Sofia of the Bulgarian First League on loan from Lommel SK. From 2021-2023 at Levski Sofia, Krastev made 56 appearances (42 starts) and registered 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.
The Sofia, Bulgaria native has already represented his country 11 times at the senior level, making his Bulgarian National Team debut on Sept. 6, 2020. He appeared in three 2020 UEFA Euro Qualifiers and played in six 2022 UEFA Nations League matches, registering one assist. Krastev represented Bulgaria in multiple competitions from the U-16 through the U-21 levels.
Krastev began his youth career at Slavia Sofia of the Bulgarian First League, signing with the senior squad on July 1, 2018. Overall, Krastev made 49 appearances (30 starts) across all competitions for Slavia Sofia from 2018-2021, including three appearances in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers in 2018 and 2020.
Ahead of the 2020-21 season, Krastev made a permanent transfer to Lommel, where he was loaned back to Slavia Sofia for the 2020-2021 season. The Bulgarian international was then loaned from Lommel SK to French League 2 side Troyes. In his time with Troyes he made two appearances, helping Troyes clinch promotion to French League 1 before moving on loan to SC Cambuur of the Dutch Eredivisie for the 2021-22 campaign where he made five appearances and registered one goal.
TRANSACTION: LAFC Acquire Midfielder Filip Krastev on loan from Lommel SK of the Belgian Challenger Pro League until June 2024, which includes a permanent transfer option.
