De Kuip beckons for Bandalovski

PFC Litex Lovech defender Ivan Bandalovski has agreed an 18-month contract with Feyenoord, with the possibility of an extension when the inital deal expires.

Medical tests
The 18-year-old had medical tests at the club yesterday and will join Ruud Gullit's side after the winter break after emerging as a major star in the first half of the season in Bulgaria. No transfer fee has been revealed although reports in the Bulgarian press suggest an initial fee of €600,000 with Litex also receiving 30 per cent of the fee if Bandalovski moves on from Feyenoord.

Notable scout
The transfer is the first fruit of Feyenoord's relationship with former Bulgaria forward Andrey Zhelyazkov, a favourite at De Kuip in the 1980s. Zhelyazkov was the first Bulgarian to win a league title in a foreign league when he tok the 1983/84 Dutch title with Feyenoord and is now helping the club as a scout in eastern Europe, with a particular focus on Bulgaria.

International debut
Bandalovski, who started his career as a trainee at Bulgarian giants PFC Levski Sofia, is the captain of his country's Under-19 team and recently made his debut for the U21s. He has made just ten appearances in the Bulgarian A PFG, but having played in three UEFA Cup games earlier this season, he will not be eligible to play in Europe for Feyenoord until next season. The transfer will not be formalised until the window reopens in January.