| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Petrov Popov | ||
| Date of birth | 26 October 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hartlepool United | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2021 | Manchester United | ||
| 2021–2024 | Leicester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2026 | Leicester City | 0 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Barrow (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2026 | → Morecambe (loan) | 18 | (7) |
| 2026– | Hartlepool United | 11 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021 | Wales U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Wales U19 | 5 | (2) |
| 2023– | Wales U21 | 17 | (3) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:43, 11 October 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:30, 14 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Christopher Petrov Popov (born 26 October 2004) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a forward or midfielder for National League club Hartlepool United. He is a Wales under-21 international.
Popov joined the Leicester City academy in 2021 after being released by Manchester United. On 27 August 2024, he made his senior debut for the club as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 4–0 EFL Cup victory against Tranmere Rovers.
On 30 August 2024, Popov joined EFL League Two side Barrow on a season-long loan. He made his club and league debut a day later, starting in a 1–0 away win against Harrogate Town. He made 12 appearances in all competitions for Barrow.
On 21 January 2026, Popov joined National League side Morecambe on loan until the end of the season. He made 18 appearances for Morecambe, scoring seven times and contributing four assists.
On 24 May 2026, he was released by Leicester City following their relegation from the Championship.
On 27 June 2026, he signed for National League club Hartlepool United on a deal until June 2028. He started in the opening match of the 2026–27 season, a 2–0 home win against Barrow. His first goal came on 5 September in a 1–0 home win against Woking.
Born in Wales, Popov is of Bulgarian descent and is eligible to play for both Wales and Bulgaria.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leicester City U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2024–25 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||||
| Leicester City | 2024–25 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Barrow (loan) | 2024–25 | League Two | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Morecambe (loan) | 2025–26 | National League | 18 | 7 | – | – | – | 18 | 7 | |||
| Hartlepool United | 2026–27 | National League | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| Career total | 40 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 50 | 8 | ||