Ștefan Baiaram


Ștefan Baiaram is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga I club Universitatea Craiova and the Romania national team.

Club career

Baiaram made his professional debut for Universitatea Craiova on 11 July 2019, coming on as a late substitute for Bogdan Vătăjelu in the 90th minute of a 3–2 victory over Sabail in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. Three days later, he made his first Liga I appearance in a 3–2 win against Academica Clinceni. In his first senior season, he made 13 appearances in all competitions without scoring.
On 27 August 2020, Baiaram scored his first goal for the Alb-albaștrii in a 1–2 away defeat to Locomotive Tbilisi in the Europa League. He netted his first Liga I goal on 6 March 2021, securing a 1–0 win over Botoșani. On 15 May the same year, he registered his side's only goal in a 1–3 Liga I loss to defending champions CFR Cluj, and a week later appeared in the 3–2 win over Astra Giurgiu in the Cupa României final.
Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Baiaram was given the club's number 10 shirt. On 28 August 2025, he scored in a 3–1 home victory over İstanbul Başakşehir, helping Craiova qualify for the league phase of a European competition for the first time, with a 5–2 aggregate triumph in the Conference League play-off round.

International career

Ștefan Baiaram has represented Romania at multiple youth levels before making his senior debut in October 2025.
At youth level, Baiaram first appeared for the Romania U17 side in 2019, earning 2 caps. In 2021, he joined the Romania U20 team, where he made 4 appearances and scored 1 goal. Later that same year, he began playing for the Romania U21 team. Between 2021 and 2025, he collected 15 caps and scored 2 goals for the U21s. During his time with the youth national squads, Baiaram was viewed as one of the promising attacking talents coming through Romania’s development pipeline.
In 2025, Baiaram earned his first call-up to the Romania senior national team and made his debut in a friendly against Moldova. Although he did not score in his first appearance, his selection marked an important milestone in his international career.
As of October 2025, he remains part of the national team pool, and observers consider his progression through the youth levels to senior status as an example of Romania’s approach to integrating young talent.

Personal life

Ștefan Baiaram was born in Băilești, Romania, on 31 December 2002. His early years were marked by hardship, as he was abandoned by his biological parents when he was around six months old. After spending a short time in a foster in Craiova, he was taken in by Gheorghe Burticioiu and his wife, who became his adoptive parents and raised him with care and discipline. They offered him the warmth of a real family and supported his education and passion for football from an early age.
Growing up in Craiova, Baiaram often spoke about how football became both an escape and a motivation to overcome his past. Under the guidance of his adoptive parents, he joined local youth teams and gradually developed into one of the most promising young players in the region. In several interviews, he has expressed deep gratitude toward the Burticioiu family, crediting them for giving him a second chance at life and teaching him the values of hard work, humility, and perseverance. His story has often been cited in Romanian media as an inspiring example of resilience and hope.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
118 November 2025Ilie Oană, Ploiești, Romania22–17–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Universitatea Craiova
Individual