Ivan started out as a senior at Universitatea Craiova in 2014, and three and a half years later earned a €4 million transfer abroad to Russian Premier League side Krasnodar. He did not impose himself in Russia and was loaned for one season to Rapid Wien, before returning to Universitatea Craiova in the summer of 2019.
Ivan began playing youth football at local Flacăra Moreni, before moving in 2011 to Sporting Pitești. On 30 December 2013, he joined Universitatea Craiova on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[1] Ivan scored his first goal for the club on 28 May 2014, in a 2–0 home victory over ASA Târgu Mureș counting for the Liga II championship.[2] He made eight appearances during the season, as Craiova achieved promotion by winning its series.
On 2 August 2014, he netted his first Liga I goal by coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 1–3 away loss to defending champions Steaua București.[3] In January 2016, Ivan rejected a move to the latter club, which had reached an agreement with Craiova for a transfer worth €2.15 million.[4] Several foreign teams were also interested in acquiring him[5] and Ivan revealed his dream of playing abroad.[6]
On 17 July 2017, Ivan penned a five-year contract with Russian side FC Krasnodar for a rumoured transfer fee of €4 million and 25% interest.[8][9] He recorded his competitive debut on 20 August, after entering as an 84th-minute substitute for Viktor Claesson in a goalless Russian Premier League draw with Rostov.[10]
Universitatea Craiova announced the re-signing of Ivan on a four-year deal on 28 August 2019.[12] According to press, the Alb-albaștrii paid a €1.5 million transfer fee to bring him back to Oltenia.[13]
Amid reports linking him to Galatasaray,[16] Ivan scored all but one of his side's goals in a 5–2 defeat of Mioveni on 30 October 2021.[17] He finished the 2021–22 season with a career-best 14 goals in 33 league matches, and was also the top assist provider (eleven). He repeated the former performance in the following campaign, netting another 14 goals.
International career
Ivan made his full international debut for Romania on 17 November 2015, aged 18, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 friendly draw with Italy at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna.[18] He scored his first goal for the nation six years later, in a 1–2 loss to Georgia in Ploiești on 2 June 2021.[19]
Style of play
Ivan is a versatile forward who can be deployed as a winger, by preference on the left flank, or as a striker in the centre.[13][20]
^ ab"Transfer STRICT SECRET la Craiova » Andrei Ivan a semnat pe 4 ani!" [TOP SECRET transfer at Craiova » Andrei Ivan signed for 4 years!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 27 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019. It is a good news also for Craiova, which had problems there, up front. Ivan likes to play a lot on the left wing.
^"Reghe e vrăjit de un fotbalist: "Fenomenal!" » Vehement despre națională: "Nu există!"" [Reghe is enchanted by a footballer: "Phenomenal!" » He is vehement regarding the national team: "It doesn't exist!"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 18 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021. For me, Andrei Ivan is a phenomenal player. [...] He can play any position in the attacking line of three...
^ abcAndrei Ivan at Soccerway. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
^ ab"Andrei Ivan". European Football. Retrieved 3 June 2021.