18-Year-Old Vasiliya Kostov Valued Higher Than Entire Hapoel Be'er Sheva Squad Draws Interest from Barcelona and Arsenal

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to face Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday in the first leg of the third qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League. Red Star's 18-year-old midfielder Vasiliya Kostov, who will start in the match, has attracted significant attention from top European clubs including Barcelona and Arsenal. Kostov has scored four goals and provided one assist this season and is valued at 25 million euros, surpassing the entire Hapoel Be'er Sheva squad's combined valuation of 20.3 million euros.

Kostov rose through Red Star's youth system and broke into the senior team last season, scoring 14 goals and assisting seven, including crucial goals against Porto and Malmo in the Europa League. He has made three appearances for Serbia's senior national team, including an official match against Albania, despite being younger than teammate Almin Yamal by a year. Interest in Kostov from Arsenal dates back to January, with Inter Milan and Juventus also reportedly monitoring his progress.

Known for his speed, versatility, and confident playing style, Kostov can operate as both a number 8 and number 10 midfielder. His early career was marked by a high-profile tug-of-war between Red Star and rival club Partizan when he was just seven years old. Kostov is widely regarded as Serbia's most promising young talent and may transfer during the current transfer window.