Meet Monday Etim; first Nigerian to win the Romanian Superliga with Universitatea Craiova

Nigerian striker Monday Etim has written his name into the history books after helping CS Universitatea Craiova win the 2025/26 Romanian Superliga title, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Calabar-born forward became the first Nigerian player ever to win the Romanian top-flight title with the club after Craiova wrapped up the championship in emphatic fashion on Sunday.

Craiova sealed the league crown with one match still left to play after thrashing closest challengers Universitatea Cluj 5-0 in a stunning performance inside the Ion Oblemenco Stadium.

The success completed a remarkable domestic double for the Romanian side. Only days earlier, Craiova had defeated Universitatea Cluj 1-0 in the Cupa României final to secure the national cup.

It was the first league championship won by the modern version of Universitatea Craiova since the club was re-established in 2013 and the fifth in its combined history. It also ended a 35-year wait for a Romanian league crown in the city, with the club’s last top-flight triumph dating back to 1991 before the original institution was dissolved in 2011.

Etim may not have dominated headlines throughout the campaign, but the Nigerian forward became a trusted squad member in the team during the title race. Signed from Danish side Hillerød Fodbold on transfer deadline day in September 2025, the 27-year-old quickly adapted to Romanian football.

He played 26 league matches during the campaign, scoring four goals and producing two assists in just over 1,000 minutes of action. Most of those appearances came from the bench, but Etim repeatedly delivered energy, movement and direct running late in matches when opponents were beginning to tire.

One of his most important moments arrived during the Championship Playoff stage in March 2026 when he scored against Dinamo București in a tense title race encounter.

Craiova’s success was built on balance across the pitch. Palestinian forward Assad Al Hamlawi and French attacker Steven Nsimba scored 11 and 10 league goals respectively, while Georgian midfielder Anzor Mekvabishvili controlled games from midfield with seven assists.

Behind them stood one of the strongest defensive units in Romanian football. During the decisive playoff phase, Craiova conceded an average of only 0.2 goals per game as they pulled clear of rivals Universitatea Cluj and CFR Cluj.

Soccer Monday Etim, three continental trips to being Romanian champion

Etim’s journey to becoming a league champion in Europe has taken him across three continents.

Born on December 4, 1998, in Calabar, the Nigerian forward first developed his football education at the famous Kadji Sports Academy in Cameroon, the same academy known for helping shape the early career of African football legend Samuel Eto’o.

He later continued his development at Montverde Academy in the United States before making a groundbreaking move in 2017 to Los Angeles FC. At the time, he became only the second player officially signed by the new Major League Soccer franchise.

Because LAFC had not yet started competitive league action, Etim spent time on loan with American lower-division sides Orange County SC and Rio Grande Valley FC.

His career truly began to stabilise after his move to Denmark in 2019. At FC Roskilde, he became a key player and scored 22 goals during the 2021/22 season to help the club win the Danish 3rd Division title.

Spells with FC Helsingør and Hillerød followed before Craiova moved for him in 2025.

Although this Romanian title represents the biggest achievement of his career so far, it is not his first trophy. He previously celebrated promotion success in Denmark with Roskilde before now adding both the Romanian Superliga and Cupa României titles to his growing honours list.

The next challenge for Etim and Craiova will come in Europe. By winning the Romanian title, the club has secured a place in the qualifying rounds of next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Having once struggled for regular minutes in the United States and fought through difficult periods in Denmark, Etim is ready for the next chapter of his career which brings the opportunity to potentially play Champions League football next season.