Rapid restructures its squad from now on in view of the “Novak Law” » 5 foreign players, “on the loose”

The new draft amendment to the Sports Law was sent to President Nicușor Dan for promulgation, and if it becomes law, it will begin to produce effects from the 2026/2027 season. And this means that football clubs have to adjust their transfer policy from this winter mercato.

Rapid has a batch made up of almost half foreigners

For now, Rapid's team has 30 players, of which 14 are foreigners, i.e. a percentage of 46.6%. A large number, which the club's management wants to adjust as quickly as possible. Especially since two or three players from abroad are expected to come in the winter, including that number 10 that is still being talked about.

4 have contracts also next season, 3 until the summer of 2028

Of the 14 foreigners in Rapid's squad, seven have agreements valid until the end of this season. These are Leo Bolgado, Christopher Braun, Jakub Hromada, Luka Gojkovic, Diego Mendes (injured since August 2024), Borisav Burmaz (injured since this season's training) and Elvir Koljic.

Of them, with the exception of Bolgado and Koljic, the others will most likely not be offered contract extensions.

4 other foreigners, Franz Stolz, Lars Kramer, Kader Keita and Tobias Christensen, have signed with the Giulești team until the summer of 2027 and would finish their contracts.

The big problem is with the 3 who signed until the summer of 2028, Drilon Hazrollaj (he has an option for another year), Antoine Baroan and Timotej Jambor. Because none of them have given satisfaction so far and it is quite possible that Rapid will try to terminate the contracts or a loan option.

2.3 million euros for, for now, three goals and one assist

Because the investment in the three was a big one, 2.3 million euros, Hazrollaj – 900,000 euros, Baroan – 400,000 euros and Tiomotej Jambor – 1,000,000 euros, to which are also added the salaries, plus other bonuses.

The former, injured since August, has only made 5 appearances in the Superliga and has no goals or assists. Baroan, in 14 appearances in the championship and one in the Cup, managed to score twice and give an assist. And Jambor played 7 times in the championship and once in the Cup, where he scored the only goal this season.

And in their case, the people from Giulio are already looking for solutions, either termination or loan, to make way for future acquisitions of players from abroad. Because it is desired that their number no longer exceed 40 percent of the batch structure.

Even with many foreign players in the team, two of whom, Mendes and Burmaz, could not be counted on at all, Rapid managed to respect the rule that at least 40% of the players on the field should be Romanian in 13 of the 17 stages so far.

The exceptions were in the second half in rounds 3, 4, 5 (with Csikszereda, FC Botoșani, respectively Oțelul). Only once did he not respect the rule from the start of the match, in the 6th round, with FCSB (2-2), when he started the game with 8 foreigners.

How Rapid used foreign players in the 17 stages of the Super League

Stage 1 – at the start/ 5 at the end

Stage 2 – at the start- / 6 at the end

Stage 3 – 6 at the start / 7 at the end

Stage 4 – 6 at the start/ 7 at the end

Stage 5 – 7 at the start / 7 at the end

Stage 6 – 8 at the start / 5 at the end

Erapa 7 – 6 at the start/ 6 at the end

Stage 8 – 6 at the start / 6 at the end

Erapa 9 – 5 at the start / 6 at the end

Stage 10 – 5 at the start / 6 at the end

Stage 11 – 6 at the start / 5 at the end

Stage 12 – 5 at the start/ 4 at the end

Stage 13 – 5 at the start, 6 at the end

Stage 14 – 4 at the start / 5 at the end

Stage 15 – 4 at the start / 6 at the end

Stage 16 – 5 at the start, 4 at the end

Stage 17 – 5 at the start / 5 at the end