Florin Andone

Florin Andone (; born 11 April 1993) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Segunda División club Eldense.

Raised in Spain from the age of 12, Andone began competing in the country's lower divisions before making his professional debut for La Liga team Córdoba in 2014. Two years later, he joined Deportivo La Coruña, and after another two years earned a move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. Following loans at Galatasaray and Cádiz, Andone signed with Las Palmas in 2022.

Andone earned his first full cap for Romania in a goalless draw with Northern Ireland in June 2015, and was selected in the squad for the UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Early career

Born in Botoșani, Andone moved to Vinaròs in the Valencian Community in 2005, aged 12, to join his mother after his father died in a car accident. He immediately joined Vinaròs CF's youth setup, and in 2008 moved to Castellón.

Andone made his senior debut on 16 January 2011, coming on as a late substitute for Pau Franch in a 1–1 away draw against Orihuela in the Segunda División B championship. He appeared in three further matches for the club, which eventually suffered relegation.

On 2 June 2011, Andone joined Villarreal, returning to youth football. He also appeared with the C-team during the campaign, with the side in Tercera División.

On 15 August 2013, Andone was loaned to the third level's Atlético Baleares, in a season-long deal. He finished the campaign with 12 goals in 34 matches, with the Balearic outfit being one point shy of the play-offs.

Córdoba

On 3 July 2014, Andone signed a three-year deal with Córdoba, being initially assigned to the reserves in the same division. On 29 November, he was promoted to the main squad by manager Miroslav Đukić.

Andone played his first match as a professional on 3 December 2014, replacing Xisco in the 57th minute of a 1–0 away loss against Granada, for the season's Copa del Rey. He scored his first goal on the second leg, netting his side's only in a 1–1 home draw.

In his La Liga debut on 5 January 2015 Andone was handed his first start, and scored to confirm a 2–0 home win against the same opponent. On 16 January, in a 1–1 home draw against Eibar, he scored the first after only ten seconds, being the Andalusians' fastest goal in the top level, and the fourth overall.

Following Córdoba's relegation, he was named the Segunda División Player of the Month for October 2015 with four goals, which put his team in the top position.

In January 2016, as Sevilla, Málaga, Southampton, Aston Villa and Steaua București showed interest in Andone, he renewed his contract with the ''Blanquiverdes'' until 2018, receiving a wage per year 10 times higher (and 20 if his club earn promotion), and with a release clause of €20 million, the highest such figure in the club's history.

On 3 April, he struck his first hat-trick in a 4–4 draw at Gimnàstic de Tarragona. He ended his season with 21 goals after scoring the game's only at Mallorca to achieve a play-off place on 29 May, missing the final round in order to join up with Romania; he was ultimately beaten to the division's Pichichi Trophy by Elche

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