Marin began his senior career with Viitorul Constanța at age 17, quickly establishing himself as a first-team regular. His performances earned him a move abroad to Standard Liège at the start of 2017, where he won the Belgian Cup in his first full season. In 2019, he transferred to Dutch team Ajax for a reported fee of €12.5 million, but did not impose himself and joined Cagliari on an initial loan.
Marin made his senior international debut for Romania in October 2016, after having previously played for the country at several youth levels. He represented the nation in the UEFA Euro 2024, where they advanced to the round of 16 as group winners.
Club career
Early career and Viitorul Constanța
Born in Bucharest, Marin started playing football at the age of six with local Pro Luceafărul, and joined the academy of Viitorul Constanța seven years later.[3] He made his professional debut for the latter club on 18 October 2013, in a 0–4 Liga I away loss to Steaua București.[4]
Marin scored his first league goal in a 2–1 away victory over CFR Cluj, on 15 March 2015.[5] In December 2016, aged only 20, daily newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor announced that he came third for the 2016 Romanian Footballer of the Year award.[6] During his spell in Constanța, Marin amassed competitive totals of 85 games and ten goals.
Standard Liège
On 20 January 2017, Marin signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Belgian side Standard Liège.[7][8] Romanian press had initially reported the transfer value at €2.4 million,[9] with Viitorul retaining undisclosed interest on the capital gain of a potential future transfer.[10] He made his first Belgian First Division A appearance two days later, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in a 0–3 loss to Club Brugge at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.[11]
On 8 April 2017, Marin scored his first goal for Les Rouches in a 2–2 league draw with Sint-Truiden.[12] On 20 September, he netted once and also provided an assist in a 4–0 victory over Heist for the Belgian Cup;[13] in December, he scored in league fixtures against Waasland-Beveren, Sint-Truiden and Kortrijk respectively.[14] On 3 February 2018, Marin scored the final goal of a 3–0 success over Lokeren only two minutes after replacing Gojko Cimirot.[15] One month later, he assisted all of his team's goals as they won 3–2 against Mechelen, a home game where he also missed a late penalty.[16] On 17 March, he was a starter in the 1–0 win for the Belgian Cup Final against Genk.[17]
Standard played league winner Club Brugge in the Belgian Super Cup on 22 July 2018, with Marin being once again in the starting eleven, however his team lost the match 1–2.[18] He recorded his first European appearance for Standard in the UEFA Champions League's third qualifying round 2–2 home draw with Dutch side Ajax, on 7 August.[19] Marin then played all six matches in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, as his team finished third behind Sevilla and FC Krasnodar. Marin's good display throughout the year earned him the Romanian Footballer of the Year award at the 2018 Gala Fotbalului Românesc, on 3 December.[20] On the 21st that month, he finished second for the same trophy awarded by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper.[21] Marin netted the first goal of 2019 on 3 February, in an eventual 2–1 victory against rivals Anderlecht.[22]
Ajax
On 4 April 2019, it was announced that Ajax signed Marin on a five-year deal for a reported transfer fee of €12.5 million, with the player due to join the squad in the summer.[23][24] At the time, the sum was the third-highest ever paid by the Dutch club.[25]
Cagliari
On 31 August 2020, Marin joined Italian Serie A club Cagliari on loan with an obligation to buy.[26] On 1 July 2021, the deal was made permanent and Marin signed a contract that would keep him at the team until 2024. The club paid €10 million for the full transfer.[27]
On 5 July 2022, Marin joined Empoli on a season-long loan with an option to buy.[29] On 29 June 2023, his contract was redeemed by Empoli for €5 million.[30]
International career
In September 2016, 20-year-old Marin was selected in Romania's senior squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cupqualifier against Montenegro.[31] On 8 October, for the same competition, he earned his first cap and scored a goal in a 5–0 away victory over Armenia.[32]
On 7 June 2024, Marin was named in Romania's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.[33] Ten days later, he scored a goal in a 3–0 win over Ukraine in the opening group match, contributing to his country's first victory in the competition in 24 years.[34] On 26 June, Marin converted a penalty in a 1–1 draw with Slovakia, securing Romania first place in its group. He started in all four matches, with Romania eventually losing 0–3 to the Netherlands in the round of 16.[35]
^"Ajax bevestigt komst Roemeense aanwinst Marin" [Ajax confirms the arrival of Romanian Marin]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 4 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019. Marin is de op twee na duurste aankoop uit de geschiedenis van Ajax, na Miralem Sulejmani en Daley Blind.
_-_Sweden_vs_Romaina_23_March_2019.jpg)
