When this week began, Milan Borjan was without a club. But after a standout performance for Canada midweek, Borjan may well have played his way into the UEFA Champions League.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper has signed with Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad, which will play in Group B of this year’s Champions League alongside Liverpool, Real Madrid and Basel.
The deal – which has been reported by several European outlets and has been independently confirmed by MLSsoccer.com – came after Borjan was set to sign with FK Sarajevo. But the Bulgarian champions swooped in and made him an offer that he “couldn’t refuse,” according to Turkish outlet Ajansspor.
Borjan, who last played for Turkish club Sivasspor several months ago, was called upon to make a number of crucial saves to preserve a 3-1 Canadian win over Jamaica on Tuesday night, the nation’s first international victory in nearly two years.
Ludogorets Razgrad took an unorthodox path to the lucrative Champions League group stage this season. They defeated Steaua Bucharest in a playoff that was decided on penalty kicks – but it was defender Cosmin Moti who played in the shootout, after goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov was sent off late in extra time.
If Borjan steps on the pitch for Ludogorets Razgrad in Champions League play, he will become the first Canadian international to play in the tournament since 2007-08, when fellow goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld suited up for Norwegian club Rosenborg.
