George Cristian Merloi

George Cristian Merloi left Romania as a teenager to chase a career in France, spending two years in the Stade Rennais academy. He came home in 2019, joining Academica Clinceni and scoring four goals in 28 Liga I matches in his first full senior season. A free transfer took him to Astra Giurgiu in 2020, where he reached the final of the Cupa României. The following summer he signed for FC Voluntari. He played through both Liga I and Liga II with the club, and was a runner-up again in the Cupa României in 2021–22 before Voluntari's relegation at the end of the 2023–24 season. In July 2024, Merloi moved on a free transfer to FCV Farul Constanța, signing a three-year deal and switching to the number 19 shirt. The move never produced a competitive appearance, and by September he was back at Voluntari on a free transfer, this time on a contract until 2027 and with his familiar number 10 restored. Across his career in Romania he has made 122 appearances, scoring 13 goals and adding seven assists. Merloi has represented Romania at youth level, with four caps and a goal for the under-19s and two further caps for the under-21 side.