The performances of 19-year-old Bulgarian winger Kristijan Balov have attracted attention from several European clubs, including Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Borussia Dortmund, Trabzonspor, LASK from Linz, and Ludogorets were also among the interested parties. In the 2025/2026 season for Slavia Sofia, he scored 5 goals and provided 7 assists in 31 domestic league appearances. He has also earned 1 cap for Bulgaria, scoring 1 goal.
Balov, who joined Slavia Sofia in July 2024, has a contract that expires in June 2027. His current market value is €1.00m, according to an estimate by Transfermarkt. A report from June 2026 states that Red Star Belgrade will pay a €2,500,000 fee. Earlier, in January and February 2026, Slavia Sofia's asking price was reportedly close to €2,000,000. During that time, an offer from Ludogorets was reportedly rejected.
