Valencia Players Association Transfers Funds for Lubo Penev to Bulgarian Clinic
Valencia Players Association has transferred the full funds for Lubo Penev to Acibadem City Clinic in Bulgaria, concluding months of uncertainty over donations.
The Valencia Players Association announced on Monday that it has completed the transfer of the entirety of the funds raised to cover medical expenses for Lubo Penev, sending the money directly to Acibadem City Clinic in Bulgaria. The transfer marks the close of a charity campaign launched to help the former striker with treatment for kidney cancer and follows what the association described as a favourable update on his condition. The decision to remit the funds came after the group said it had followed the payment procedures established at the start of the initiative to ensure donations reached the intended medical provider.
Transfer Completed to Acibadem City Clinic
The association, led by president Fernando Giner, confirmed that the funds were deposited into the clinic’s account and that the move was made in coordination with the hospital’s billing procedures. Officials emphasized that the payment represents the full amount collected during the public fundraising drive and is intended exclusively for Penev’s medical treatment. By transferring the money to Acibadem City Clinic, the association said it aims to remove ambiguity about where donor contributions will be used.
Officials told reporters that the association acted after receiving information about a favourable evolution in Penev’s health, and that the transfer followed the conditional process agreed at the campaign’s launch. The association’s statement reiterates that donations had been held in a dedicated account earmarked for Penev’s care and were only to be released against documentation from the medical provider. That safeguard was presented as a guarantee that supporters’ contributions would be applied directly to treatment expenses.
Association’s Payment Conditions and Oversight
Fernando Giner and the association’s leadership have repeatedly stressed the administrative conditions that governed the fundraising effort, noting the funds were never released for general use. The association outlined that payments would be made only upon presentation of invoices or official treatment documentation from the hospital, a measure intended to preserve transparency and donor trust. That protocol was central to the group’s public communications during the months when the campaign was active.
The association also said it maintained separate financial records for the Penev collection and that the account balance had been under continuous review by the organization. By transferring the money to the clinic rather than to an individual, officials said they sought to minimize the risk of misapplication and to ensure a direct link between donor dollars and medical care. The group framed the transfer as the logical final step in a process designed from the outset to match donations to legitimate health-care costs.
Response to Penev’s Comments and Public Debate
The transfer comes after a public exchange in which Lubo Penev himself said he had not received financial assistance and that his situation had been overstated in media reports. Penev made those remarks in an interview that prompted questions about the status of the fundraiser and whether the resources were being used as intended. His statements generated scrutiny and debate about accountability for the donations and how the association had managed the funds.
In response, Fernando Giner defended the association’s handling of the campaign and reiterated that transparency had been a priority throughout. Giner explained that keeping the donations in a dedicated account and conditioning payments on invoices were measures designed to address precisely the kinds of concerns raised by the exchange. The association underscored that the transfer to Acibadem City Clinic should clarify the issue of where the money would go and how it would be applied to Penev’s treatment.
Support from Fans, Former Teammates and Clubs
The fundraising effort drew contributions from a wide array of sources, including supporters, former teammates and several clubs across Spain’s top divisions, illustrating the veteran striker’s lasting connection to Spanish football. Donors mobilized after news of Penev’s diagnosis circulated, with many emphasizing the personal bonds formed during his playing career in LaLiga. The association thanked all contributors for their support and noted the campaign reflected a collective desire to assist a player remembered fondly by Valencia fans.
Club-level involvement and public messages of solidarity played a role in maintaining the campaign’s visibility and momentum, the association said. That visible backing, association officials added, helped persuade many smaller donors to contribute and created public pressure to ensure donations were managed with care. The variety of contributors complicated the narrative at times but also underscored the broad-based nature of the effort to help Penev.
Penev’s Medical Status and Coaching Return
Lubo Penev, aged 59, was hospitalized in December 2025 to begin treatment for kidney cancer, a condition disclosed by his family at the time and that prompted immediate concern among fans and former colleagues. Since then, his camp has issued periodic health updates and Penev has publicly acknowledged the moral support he received from Spain. The association cited a favourable evolution in his condition when explaining why it proceeded with the transfer to the Bulgarian clinic.
In parallel with his recovery, Penev has resumed his professional life in football, taking on a coaching role in his native Bulgaria with Lokomotiv Sofia, a position announced in recent weeks. The association extended its best wishes for his health and for success in his new duties, indicating the transfer was intended to support both ongoing treatment and the stability needed for his return to professional activity. Officials emphasized that the medical and professional developments for Penev are separate but both important to his overall recovery.
Next Steps and Final Accounting
With the funds now in the clinic’s account, the association said it will monitor the invoicing and payment process to ensure the money is applied in accordance with the original purpose of the campaign. The group expects the hospital to provide documentation that will allow for final accounting and public reporting on how donations were used. That documentation, the association added, will be made available to the extent permitted by medical confidentiality and privacy regulations.
The transfer is intended to bring closure to a period of relative uncertainty about the destination of the donations, but association officials pledged to keep supporters informed about the formal billing and treatment records that justify the payments. By tying disbursement to hospital invoices and retaining an audit trail, the association hopes to pre-empt further disputes and to reassure donors that their contributions were not diverted for any purpose other than Penev’s care.
The completion of the transfer to Acibadem City Clinic closes the fundraising chapter while leaving open the practical work of medical billing and patient care documentation. Donors, the association and the wider football community will now await confirmation that the payments have been applied to the treatments reported by Penev’s medical team. In the meantime, those involved have reiterated their shared hope that the former striker makes a full recovery and that the procedural steps taken will stand as a clear record of how the community’s support was managed.
