He terminated his contract and submitted a memorandum to FIFA » The club risks a transfer ban
Article by George Nistor – Published Tuesday, November 25, 2025, 3:11 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, November 25, 2025, 3:16 p.m.
Julian Bonilla (29 years old) reached an agreement with Galati Steel for the termination of the contract. The central defender, transferred in January to the formation on the banks of the Danube, was increasingly dissatisfied, lately, with the few minutes he received in the new season, but also with the delay in salaries.
According to Gazeta Sporturilor information, the Colombian submitted a memorandum to FIFA, an action that could lead to a new ban on transfers for Galatasaray. The stopper, who played for seven years in Portugal, is asking for the contract to be paid until the expiry date, June 2028.
Julian Bonilla, in litigation at FIFA with Oțelul Galati
For Laszlo Balint, Julian Bonilla did not represent a viable option in the Steel defense. He was used in four matches in the previous season, and in the Superliga 2025-2026 he only played two games, both from the starting position, with Petrolul and Farul, at the start of the championship.
At Ovidiu, the defender suffered a muscle injury that took him out of the team circuit. Since then, he hasn't caught a single minute. The player born in Bogota complained to FIFA about the non-payment of wages, as did Samy Bourard, registered with Galați last season.
Because the Danubians paid the debt to the Belgian midfielder, but delayed the payment of the penalties, FIFA imposed a ban on transfers until the full payment of the obligation is confirmed.
Now, Oțelul faces a new situation and will have to pay the debts to Bonilla in order not to risk blocking the moves in the winter mercato.
Julian Bonilla became free of contract after parting with Oțelul Galati
The defender arrived in Romania at the beginning of the year, after parting ways with FC Felgueiras 1932, from the Lusitanian second division. At the age of 21 he made the move to Europe, leaving his native Real Fortaleza to sign with Quarteirense.
Over time he also played for Moncarapachense (2018), Sacavenense (2018-2019), Esperanca Lagos (2019-2020), Oliveira do Hospital (2020-2022) and Varzim (2022-2024).
150,000 eurosis Julian Bonilla's market share, according to the specialist portal Transfermarkt.com
For the Steelers, the match with Dinamo follows, which will be played at the National Arena in Bucharest, on Saturday, at 20:45, in the 18th round of the Superliga.
Paul Iacob, Ne Lopes, Vadik Murria and Dan Neicu are Laszlo Balint's solutions for the Galați defensive axis, to which defensive midfielder Diego Zivulic can also be added,
