Nikola Emiliyanov Neychev

Nikola Neychev collected 14 yellow cards and one red in his first season of Bulgarian top-flight football, and he did it in 16 league appearances for Lokomotiv Sofia. He started 12 of those matches and played 1,231 minutes. He also scored once and set up two goals. Against Slavia Sofia he was named Player of the Match.

Neychev's route to that season was not a straight one. He began in the Pirin youth system in Blagoevgrad, where he played in the Elite Group in 2020/2021. His senior debut followed in 2021/2022 with Pirin Razlog. That same season he moved to Botev Vratsa and played in the Parva Liga. He then joined Botev Plovdiv, where he spent time with the second team in the Second League. Every move along the way was a free transfer.

In September 2023 he signed for NK Tabor Sežana in Slovenia, arriving from Akademik Svishtov, and he remained there until 2025. Lokomotiv Sofia signed him from Tabor on 8 January 2026, again on a free transfer.

Neychev has also played for Bulgaria at Under-21 level. He was in the squad for the European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan on 31 March 2026, which finished 0–0. He was also named for a friendly against North Macedonia's Under-21 side on 30 May 2026.