Hartlepool United is delighted to confirm the signing of Chris Popov following the expiry of his contract with Leicester City.

The 21-year-old forward has agreed a two-year contract at Victoria Park until June 2028, subject to the relevant approvals.

The Wales Under-21 international began his career within the academy system at Manchester United before joining Leicester City in 2021.

Having progressed through the ranks at the King Power Stadium, Popov made his senior debut for Leicester City in the EFL Cup during the 2024/25 season before gaining valuable first-team experience through loan spells with League Two side Barrow and National League outfit Morecambe.

After making 12 appearances in all competitions for Barrow, the forward enjoyed a breakthrough spell with Morecambe during the second half of last season, scoring seven goals and registering four assists in 18 National League appearances.

Popov will also be reunited with fellow summer signing Jack Nolan following their time together at Morecambe, where the pair combined for 26 goals and 12 assists in National League competition.

A versatile attacker capable of operating as a centre-forward, second striker or attacking midfielder, he has represented Wales throughout the youth age groups and has earned 17 caps and scored three goals for the country’s Under-21 side.

Speaking after agreeing terms with Pools, Chris Popov said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Pools.

“I had a really good feeling about the move as soon as I spoke to Chris Maxwell. He took the time to explain the vision for the football club, the direction things are moving in and where they see me fitting into that. You could see how much work has gone into building something here and it made a big impression on me.

“Lee was also very clear about the way he wants his teams to play and the role he believes I can have within the squad. His ideas really excited me and I felt it was an environment where I could continue developing and improving.

“Last season was an important one for me. I gained valuable experience in senior football and showed what I can do at National League level, but I feel there is still a lot more to come from me and that’s one of the reasons this move appealed so much.

“It is also great to be linking up with Jack Nolan again. We enjoyed playing together at Morecambe and built up a good understanding on the pitch, so it will be nice to have a familiar face when I come in.

“Pools is a massive football club with incredible support and real ambition. When the opportunity came along, it was one I wanted to be part of.

“I’m excited to get started, meet the lads and play in front of the supporters. I’ll give everything I have to help the team achieve its goals this season.”

The forward joins Jordan Hugill, Jack Nolan, Brooklyn Ilunga, Corey McKeown and Owen Hampson among the Club’s summer arrivals ahead of the 2026/27 National League campaign. 

Preparations continue at Victoria Park ahead of the players’ return for pre-season training on Monday as Lee Clark’s squad takes further shape.

Lee Clark, First Team Head Coach at Hartlepool United, said: “Chris is a player we’re delighted to welcome to Pools.

“Chris Maxwell and Chris Beech had done a significant amount of work on him and, having watched him closely and spoken with him, it was easy to see why they were so keen to bring him to the football club.

“He enjoyed an excellent spell at Morecambe last season and showed that he can be a real influence in games at National League level.

“What stood out to me was his intelligence as an attacking player. He is comfortable receiving the ball in tight areas, linking play, creating chances and arriving in dangerous positions around the box.

“He gives us real flexibility because he can operate in a number of attacking positions and that versatility is something we value highly within the way we want to play.

“At 21, there is still a lot of development ahead of him, but he already possesses qualities that can help the team and we’re excited to start working with him.

“We believe he is a player with a bright future and we’re excited to see what he can bring to the team.”

Chris Maxwell, Head of Football Operations at Bromby & Partners, said: “Chris was a player we were very keen to bring to Pools this summer.

“His performances at Morecambe made him one of the most sought-after young attacking players available and, understandably, there was strong interest in him following the impact he made during the second half of last season.

“Having spoken with Chris on a number of occasions, it quickly became clear that he had the ambition, mentality and hunger to improve that we look for in players. 

“A lot of our conversations centred around the football club, the direction we are heading in and the role we felt he could play within that. What was particularly encouraging was how quickly he bought into what we are trying to build.

“He understood where we want to take the football club, the standards we are setting and the opportunity we believe exists for him here. 

“Chris has already shown he can make a real impact at National League level, but we firmly believe there is much more to come from him. At 21, he is still developing and we feel Pools is the right environment for him to continue that progression.

“We’re delighted to welcome him to the football club and look forward to seeing him make a positive contribution as we continue working towards our objectives for the season ahead.”