CFR Cluj lost to the “under” without a match in the championship to another team in the Superliga
Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 1:26 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 1:27 p.m.
CFR Cluj announced through social networks the transfer of striker David Ciubăncan (21 years old) to UTA Arad, keeping 50% of the player's economic rights.
Originally from Arad, David Ciubăncan was brought up at UTA, and later played for Poli Iași, Unirea Ungheni, CFR Cluj II, Șoimii Lipova, CSM Deva and Minaur Baia Mare.
David Ciubăncan was sold by CFR Cluj to UTA Arad
The breakup with David Ciubăncan was announced by CFR Cluj through social networks: “Thank you, David Ciubăncan! The clubs CFR 1907 Cluj and UTA Arad have reached an agreement for the transfer of striker David Ciubăncan to the Arada formation.
Following this agreement, our club retained 50% of the player's economic rights. Thank you for your work at CFR Cluj and we wish you much success in your career, David!”.
Returning from the loan from Minaur Baia Mare from the previous season, David Ciubăncan played a half in the friendly match played last summer between CFR Cluj and Debrecen, which ended with a score of 2-0.
At the beginning of this season, Dan Petrescu introduced the young striker on the pitch in the Romanian Supercup lost by CFR Cluj to FCSB, score 1-2. Ciubăncan replaced Andres Sfait in the 90th minute, and the reigning Superliga champion scored the winning goal only a minute later, through Risto Radunovic.
On the other hand, in the Superliga, David Ciubăncan did not get a single minute under the command of any coach from CFR this season, being left on the reserve bench or out of the squad by Dan Petrescu and Andrea Mandorlini as well as Daniel Pancu.
Now, CFR Cluj has decided to transfer the young striker to UTA Arad, the club where he formed. Until this moment, David Ciubăncan has not ticked off any appearance in the Superliga, but he can be a variant for the U21 rule for Adrian Mihalcea.
David Ciubăncan signed a contract with UTA until 2028 with an extension option. The transfer comes after the period spent at CFR Cluj. Ciubăncan is 21 years old, 1.97 m and plays as a forward. Trained at UTA's academy, he left the club at 15 and did not get to debut for the first team, then played at Poli Iași before arriving at CFR Cluj.
In his senior career he played for several teams on loan. At Soimii Lipova in the 3rd League he scored 8 goals in one season. In 2025, he officially debuted for CFR Cluj with the Romanian Super Cup match against FCSB. His father, Marius Ciubăncan, played several seasons at UTA and contributed to the promotion in 2002, under the leadership of Ionuţ Popa.
– Press release from UTA Arad
