Article by Romeo Ene – Published Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7:27 p.m. / Updated Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7:36 p.m.
University of Craiova transferred an emergency goalkeeper, with 6 stages before the end of the season! The Portuguese Joao Goncalves (25 years old) clapped with the formation of Filipe Coelho (45 years old).
The Oltenians hastened to register him in the context in which Pavlo Isenko (22 years old) was seriously injured and will not play again this season, and Silviu Lung Jr. (36 years old) also accused certain medical problems.
Thus, the people of Craiova were only in Laurentiu Popescu (29 years old), and Goncalves is coming to compete with him for these last stages.
The Portuguese Joao Goncalves is the new goalkeeper of the University of Craiova
Raised by Boavista, Goncalves will play at Craiova University until the summer of 2027, according to Transfermarkt. He is to be officially presented by the team coached by Coelho.
The Portuguese played this season at AFS, the 18th place in the Portuguese championship. It will be the first experience outside his native country for the new Craiova player.
Craiova is currently in 2nd place in the Superliga, with 36 points, 3 behind the leader U Cluj. The transfer was made right before the derby with Rapid, scheduled for Sunday, April 19, at 21:00.
Goncalves played 45 games for Boavista, where he spent six years. From 2025 he played for AFS, a club he left this year. He played eight times for this team. It is quoted by the specialized website Transfermarkt at 600,000 euros. He also has a selection in the U21 national team of Portugal.
The transfer also comes in the context where the club parted ways with Lyes Houri on Saturday, and the foreigner's place has already been filled. It remains to be seen if Craiova's new goalkeeper will impress Coelho and get a chance to debut this season.
The up-to-date play-off situation
