Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Ludogorets · 2nd	37	12	2	7.46	12	41
2024/25	Ludogorets	32	5	2	7.06	—	—
2023/24	Ludogorets	14	1	1	7.83	—	—
2023/24	CSKA 1948	17	6	1	7.83	—	—
2022/23	CSKA 1948	31	21	0	—	—	—
2021/22	CSKA 1948	30	13	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 10 earlier seasons in the full career.

Bulgaria · international

Side	Apps	G
Bulgaria	51	4
Bulgaria U21	9	3
Bulgaria U19	5	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headDefensive midfielder

I. Chochev is a 33-year-old defensive midfielder at Ludogorets, enjoying a standout season — 12 goals and 2 assists in 37 appearances, a Season grade of 41, top 4% of First League defensive midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 11.9, ranking 185th of 207 in the First League. A seasoned veteran, he has been a rotation option (50.8% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.66 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Chochev.

Judged on this season alone, Chochev graded 41 — a standout campaign that ranks top 5% of the 24 defensive midfielders in the First League, on 12 goals, 2 assists and 2.66 defensive actions per 90.

We hold a single season for Chochev, so there's no year-on-year comparison to draw yet — the read above is this campaign only.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 12, 23rd of 24 of the 24 defensive midfielders in the First League. At 33 Chochev is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.8 reflects that trajectory.

Current potential23rd of 24 defensive midfielders · First League Current seasonTop 5% defensive midfielders · First League 1st-best defensive midfielder in the First League 185th in the First League · potential 23rd-highest potential defensive midfielder in the First League

11.9

Ratingi

23rd of 24 defensive midfielders

40.7

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

50.8%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.66

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Ludogorets finished 2nd of 16 · a title-challenging side

Apps

2.66

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.66 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 10 clean sheets across 37 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (2nd of 16) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 12 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.74 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.

Watch points

Game time. Only 50.8% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 33, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 11.9, Chochev carries the 23rd-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the First League of 24. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.66 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.7× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %50.8%

Available fixtures37 of 37

Goals / 900.638

Assists / 900.106

Goal contribution / 900.745

Defensive actions / 902.66

Player flow

Goal involvements14

Shot conversion %50

Shot accuracy %53.3

Pass accuracy %80

Dribble success %78.6

Cards / 900.16

Foul involvement / 902.394

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~2), then tapers with age. At 33, Chochev sits on 0.8, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Chochev's projected Rating — 11.9 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the First League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals12

Shots on target24

Shots45

Passing

Assists2

Pass accuracy80%

Possession

Successful dribbles11

Dribble success78.6%

Fouls won29

Defending

Tackles18

Interceptions31

Blocks1

Fouls committed16

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3

Red cards0

Transfer history

LudogoretsFeb 2024 – now

CSKA 1948until Feb 2024

PalermoJul 2014 – Feb 2024

CSKA SofiaDec 2012 – Jul 2014

CChavdar Etropoleuntil Dec 2012

About I. Chochev

Ivaylo Lyudmilov Chochev is a 33-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Ludogorets, born on February 18, 1993 in Pleven, standing 188 cm tall. He is from Bulgaria. Ludogorets currently sit 2nd of 16 in the First League.

This season

In the current season, I. Chochev has made 37 appearances with 12 goals and 2 assists across 1,692 minutes, averaging a 7.2 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 3 yellow cards. His season has spanned the First League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Champions League.

When I. Chochev plays, Ludogorets's record this season is 7W-1D-4L — and his match ratings average 7 at home against 7.22 on the road.

Recent matches

April 25, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs CSKA 1948 (29 minutes, 6.6 rating)
April 15, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Arda Kardzhali (90 minutes, 7 rating)
April 5, 2026: 3-0 win at home vs CSKA 1948 (78 minutes, 1 goal, 7.6 rating)
March 19, 2026: 5-1 win away at Spartak Varna (90 minutes, 2 goals, 8.6 rating)
March 14, 2026: 3-0 win at home vs CSKA Sofia (84 minutes, 7.6 rating)
March 9, 2026: 3-0 win away at Montana (83 minutes, 1 goal, 7.7 rating)
January 29, 2026: 1-0 win at home vs Nice (24 minutes, 6.5 rating)
January 22, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Rangers (16 minutes, 6.3 rating)
December 11, 2025: 3-3 draw at home vs PAOK (24 minutes, 1 goal, 7.6 rating)
November 27, 2025: 3-2 win at home vs Celta Vigo (31 minutes, 6.5 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates I. Chochev at 11.9 with a Season form score of 40.7, ranking 185th of 207 defensive midfielders in the First League. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 7 career titles — among them the Super Cup and the First League. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 15 recorded seasons, I. Chochev has totalled 399 club appearances with 97 goals and 11 assists for 5 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 37 appearances for Ludogorets.

I. Chochev's career has also included time at CSKA 1948, Palermo, CSKA Sofia and CChavdar Etropole.

On the international stage, I. Chochev has represented Bulgaria, Bulgaria U21, Bulgaria U19 — 65 caps and 7 goals in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Ludogorets finished 2nd of 16 · a title-challenging side

Strengths

Watch points