A few days ago, a report surfaced that former Leeds United standout Liam Cooper, who remains a free agent, would be in talks to continue his career in Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia. With new information surfacing, a deal could be on the verge of occurring.
Cooper has been without a club since July 1, when his contract with Leeds expired. The 33-year-old’s departure marked the end of an era at Elland Road, as he had been with The Whites for 10 years.
The Scottish player made 284 appearances during his time with Leeds, scoring 11 goals and recording six assists across all competitions. Moreover, the center-back was part of the team that won the 2019-20 EFL Championship to earn promotion to the Premier League.
Cooper played all three Premier League seasons before the club was relegated back to the Championship following the 2022-23 season. Nonetheless, last season under manager Daniel Farke, the veteran defender’s appearances on the pitch declined, a sign that the end at Leeds was near.
Last season, Cooper made 15 appearances in the Championship as Leeds pushed for promotion to the Premier League. It was clear the decade-long relationship was ending this past summer.
Liam Cooper agrees to go to Bulgaria
The former Leeds man is reportedly nearing a surprising move to Bulgaria, with reports suggesting he’s reached an agreement with CSKA Sofia.
According to journalist Metodi Shumanov (h/t Yorkshire Evening Post), the Bulgarian Telegraph claims the free agent has finalized terms and will soon fly in for medical tests before completing the transfer.
Cooper will bring plenty of experience from playing in the Championship and Premier League to his new club. In addition, the defender probably wants to show that there’s still football left in his boots.
The Bulgarian side could use Cooper on their backline as they have conceded nine goals through six matches and are currently 15th in the
First League table. Adding someone like Cooper should help their side stabilize itself defensively as they look to climb up the table after struggling early in the 2024-25 season.
As for Cooper, if he reportedly does sign with CSKA Sofia, it will be the first time he’ll play outside of England, so this venture would be a new experience for him.