Yashar Durmushev, the president of Arda, told "Tema Sport" that the club is doing everything possible to keep 38-year-old Bulgarian attacking midfielder Ivelin Popov and has tried to dissuade him from quitting football. According to Durmushev, Ivelin Popov's wish is to play until the summer and then end his active career. Durmushev also said that Popov has promised to continue playing for the club if Arda wins the Bulgarian Cup and qualifies for Europe. Popov has 90 caps and 16 goals for Bulgaria. In the 2025/2026 season for the efbet Liga, he has made 18 appearances and scored 3 goals. His current market value is €25k, according to Transfermarkt.