{{short description|Romanian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Paul Anton | image = Paul Anton 2018.jpg | caption = Anton with Anzhi Makhachkala in 2018 | fullname = Paul Viorel Anton<ref>{{cite web |url=https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0263-10de614232cd-de3927e3d25c-1000/unl_booking_list_before_md6.pdf |title=UEFA Nations League 2019: Booking List before League phase Matchday 5 |page=12 |publisher=UEFA |date=6 November 2018 |accessdate=24 November 2020 |archive-date=23 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123003056/https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0263-10de614232cd-de3927e3d25c-1000/unl_booking_list_before_md6.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1991|5|10}} | birth_place = Bistrița, Romania | height = 1.82 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Győr | clubnumber = 5 | youthyears1 = 2001–2008 | youthclubs1 = Gloria Bistrița | years1 = 2008–2012 | clubs1 = Gloria Bistrița | caps1 = 59 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 2008–2009 | clubs2 = → Delta Tulcea (loan) | caps2 = 27 | goals2 = 4 | years3 = 2010 | clubs3 = → FCM Târgu Mureș (loan) | caps3 = 14 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2013–2015 | clubs4 = Pandurii Târgu Jiu | caps4 = 74 | goals4 = 6 | years5 = 2015–2017 | clubs5 = Dinamo București | caps5 = 43 | goals5 = 8 | years6 = 2016–2017 | clubs6 = → Getafe (loan) | caps6 = 30 | goals6 = 2 | years7 = 2018 | clubs7 = Anzhi Makhachkala | caps7 = 11 | goals7 = 3 | years8 = 2018–2020 | clubs8 = Krylia Sovetov Samara | caps8 = 40 | goals8 = 4 | years9 = 2020–2021 | clubs9 = Dinamo București | caps9 = 31 | goals9 = 5 | years10 = 2021–2022 | clubs10 = Ponferradina | caps10 = 29 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2022–2023 | clubs11 = UTA Arad | caps11 = 27 | goals11 = 0 | years12 = 2023– | clubs12 = Győr | caps12 = 67 | goals12 = 5 | nationalyears1 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam1 = Romania U21 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2014–2019 | nationalteam2 = Romania | nationalcaps2 = 13 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | club-update = 13 December 2025 | ntupdate = }} '''Paul Viorel Anton''' ({{IPA|ro|ˈpaul vi.oˈrel anˈton}}; born 10 May 1991) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Győr, which he captains.

==Club career==

===Early years=== In 2008, Anton began his career with his hometown club Gloria Bistrița, being promoted from the juniors. In the same year, he was loaned to Delta Tulcea, where he played a season and scored 4 goals in 27 Liga II matches. However, after the loan to Delta Tulcea, Anton was sent to the Gloria Bistrița's reserves, where he played a season, after being loaned to FCM Târgu Mureș, and in 2010 he returned to the first team. In his first Liga I campaign with Bistrița, he appeared in 18 matches and scored one goal. The club relegated in 2011 and promoted back in first division a year after.

===Pandurii Târgu Jiu=== On 7 January 2013, Anton signed a deal with Pandurii Târgu Jiu. In the 2012–13 season, he played 13 matches and scored three times in the Liga I for Pandurii, including two goals against CS Turnu Severin, helping his team in the 3–1 win. Coming as runner-ups in the league, the club earned a place in the UEFA Europa League and Anton was used as a starter in all the 10 matches played in that competition.

===Dinamo București=== On 7 September 2015, Anton signed a contract with Dinamo București.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digisport.ro/Sport/FOTBAL/Competitii/Liga+1/EXCLUSIV+Paul+Anton+a+semnat+cu+Dinamo|title=Paul Anton a semnat cu Dinamo! Rednic l-a convins. Ce salariu va avea|trans-title=Paul Anton signed for Dinamo! Rednic convinced him. How much he will earn|publisher=Digi Sport|language=Romanian|date=7 September 2015|accessdate=30 April 2017}}</ref> Three days later, he made his debut in a 2–0 Cupa Ligii victory over his former team Pandurii Târgu Jiu. Anton scored his first goal for "the Red Dogs" in a league match with FC Voluntari on 30 November.

Anton agreed to a season-long loan deal with Spanish club Getafe on 28 July 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/plecare-neasteptata-de-la-dinamo-paul-anton-a-ajuns-la-getafe-reactia-capitanului-a-fost-o-oferta-de-ultim-moment-sper-sa-i-atrag-atentia-lui-daum-15543154|title=Plecare neaşteptată de la Dinamo: Paul Anton a ajuns la Getafe! Reacţia căpitanului: "A fost o ofertă de ultim moment, sper să-i atrag atenţia lui Daum!"|trans-title=Unexpected exit at Dinamo: Paul Anton moved to Getafe! The captain's reaction: "It was a last minute offer, I hope to attract Daum's attention!"|publisher=ProSport|language=Romanian|date=28 July 2016|accessdate=30 April 2017}}</ref> He made 32 appearances and scored two goals all competitions comprised as ''El Geta'' achieved promotion to the La Liga.

===Anzhi Makhachkala=== On 29 December 2017, Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala signed Anton on a two-and-a-half-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fc-anji.ru/news/ru/club_news/anji_priobrel_antona291217/|title="Анжи" приобрел Антона|trans-title=Anzhi acquired Anton|publisher=FC Anzhi Makhachkala|language=Russian|date=29 December 2017|accessdate=29 December 2017}}</ref> Two weeks before the official announcement, Romanian press reported the transfer fee at €500,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/liga-1/paul-anton-pleaca-de-la-dinamo-capitanul-cainilor-va-evolua-in-rusia-355509|title=Paul Anton pleacă de la Dinamo. Căpitanul "câinilor" va evolua în Rusia|trans-title=Paul Anton leaves Dinamo. The captain of "the Dogs" will play in Russia|publisher=Digi Sport|language=Romanian|date=13 December 2017|accessdate=29 December 2017}}</ref>

Anton made his debut for Anzhi on 2 March 2018, starting in a 1–1 league draw to Rubin Kazan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccer.ru/matches/1055230.shtml|script-title=ru:Анжи - Рубин 1 : 1|publisher=Soccer.ru|language=Russian|date=2 March 2018|accessdate=3 March 2018}}</ref> His first goals for the club came on 17 March, when he netted both in a 2–0 win over FC Tosno.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/fotbal-international/dubla-pentru-paul-anton-in-rusia-fostul-dinamovist-a-fost-omul-meciului-410825|title="Dublă" pentru Paul Anton, în Rusia. Fostul dinamovist a fost omul meciului|trans-title="Double" for Paul Anton, in Russia. The former Dinamo player was the man of the match|publisher=Digi Sport|language=Romanian|date=17 March 2018|accessdate=17 March 2018}}</ref>

===Krylia Sovetov Samara=== On 21 August 2018, Anton signed a three-year contract with PFC Krylia Sovetov Samara.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ru:Паул-Виорел Антон – игрок "Крыльев Советов" |url=http://www.kc-camapa.ru/cgi-bin/newsprn.cgi?16403 |website=kc-camapa.ru |publisher=FC Krylia Sovetov Samara |accessdate=21 August 2018 |language=Russian |date=21 August 2018}}</ref> He left Krylia Sovetov on 10 August 2020, following club's relegation from the Russian Premier League.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=PFC Krylia Sovetov Samara|url=http://www.kc-camapa.ru/cgi-bin/newsprn.cgi?18216|title=Паул-Виорел Антон покидает "Крылья Советов"|date=10 August 2020|language=Russian}}</ref>

===Ponferradina=== On 28 August 2021, after one year back at Dinamo București, Anton signed for SD Ponferradina in the Spanish Segunda División.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdponferradina.com/noticias/noticia/el-centrocampista-paul-anton-nuevo-jugador-de-la-sd-ponferradina|title=El centrocampista Paul Anton, nuevo jugador de la SD Ponferradina|trans-title=Central midfielder Paul Anton, new player of SD Ponferradina|publisher=SD Ponferradina|language=es|date=28 August 2021|accessdate=28 August 2021}}</ref> On 4 September of the following year, he agreed to terminate his contract with the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdponferradina.com/noticias/noticia/acuerdo-para-la-rescision-del-contrato-de-paul-anton|title=Acuerdo para la rescisión del contrato de Paul Anton|trans-title=Agreement for the rescision of Paul Anton's contract|publisher=SD Ponferradina|language=es|date=4 September 2022|accessdate=5 September 2022}}</ref>

===UTA Arad=== On 5 September 2022, he came back to Romania signing a contract with UTA Arad

==International career== Anton made his full debut for Romania on 24 March 2018, replacing Mihai Pintilii in the 72nd minute in a 2–1 friendly win against Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/echipa-nationala/israel-romania-sambata-2000-primul-meci-al-tricolorilor-din-2018-413560|title=Israel - România 1–2. Tricolorii au revenit spectaculos și câștigă primul amical al anului|trans-title=Israel - Romania 1–2. ''The Tricolours'' win the first friendly of the year|publisher=Digi Sport|language=Romanian|date=24 March 2018|accessdate=24 March 2018}}</ref>

==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|13 December 2025}}<ref>{{Soccerway|paul-anton/86626|accessdate=17 March 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes Cupa României, Russian Cup, Copa del Rey, Magyar Kupa}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Delta Tulcea (loan) |2008–09 |Liga II |27||4||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||27||4 |- |rowspan=5|Gloria Bistrița |2009–10 |Liga I |1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- |2010–11 |Liga I |20||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||22||0 |- |2011–12 |Liga II |20||2||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||20||2 |- |2012–13 |Liga I |18||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||18||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !59!!3!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!61!!3 |- |FCM Târgu Mureș (loan) |2009–10 |Liga II |14||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||14||0 |- |rowspan=5|Pandurii Târgu Jiu |2012–13 |Liga I |13||3||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||13||3 |- |2013–14 |Liga I |29||2||1||0||10{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan=2|—||40||2 |- |2014–15 |Liga I |28||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||5||0||35||1 |- |2015–16 |Liga I |4||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||4||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !74!!6!!3!!0!!10!!0!!5!!0!!92!!6 |- |rowspan=4|Dinamo București |2015–16 |Liga I |23||2||4||0||colspan=2|—||4||0||31||2 |- |2016–17 |Liga I |1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- |2017–18 |Liga I |19||6||1||0||2{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan=2|—||22||6 |- !colspan=2|Total !43!!8!!5!!0!!2!!0!!4!!0!!54!!8 |- |Getafe (loan) |2016–17 |Segunda División |30||2||0||0||colspan=2|—||2||0||32||2 |- |rowspan=3|Anzhi Makhachkala |2017–18 |Russian Premier League |9||2||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=RRPO|Appearances in relegation play-offs}}||0||11||2 |- |2018–19 |Russian Premier League |2||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !11!!3!!0!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!13!!3 |- |rowspan=3|Krylia Sovetov Samara |2018–19 |Russian Premier League |23||2||2||1||colspan=2|—|||2{{efn|name=RRPO}}||0||27||3 |- |2019–20 |Russian Premier League |17||2||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||18||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !40!!4!!3!!1!!0!!0!!2!!0!!45!!5 |- |rowspan=3|Dinamo București |2020–21 |Liga I |30||5||5||2||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||35||7 |- |2021–22 |Liga I |1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !31!!5!!5!!2!!colspan=2|—!!colspan=2|—!!36!!7 |- |rowspan=3|Ponferradina |2021–22 |Segunda División |28||0||3||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||31||0 |- |2022–23 |Segunda División |1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !29!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!32!!0 |- |UTA Arad |2022–23 |Liga I |27||0||5||1||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|Appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs}}||0||34||1 |- |rowspan=4|Győr |2023–24 |Nemzeti Bajnokság II |29||2||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||30||2 |- |2024–25 |Nemzeti Bajnokság I |24||1||3||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||27||1 |- |2025–26 |Nemzeti Bajnokság I |14||2||2||0||6{{efn|name=CON|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}}||0||colspan=2|—||22||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !67!!5!!6!!0!!6!!0!!colspan=2|—!!79!!5 |- !colspan=3|Career total !452!!40!!32!!4!!18!!0!!17!!0!!519!!44 |- |}

{{notelist}}

===International=== {{updated|15 October 2019.}}<ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58189/Paul_Anton.html|title=Paul Anton|publisher=National-Football-Teams|accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Romania |- |2015||2||0 |- |2016||0||0 |- |2017||0||0 |- |2018||8||0 |- |2019||3||0 |- !colspan=2|Total||13||0 |}

==Honours== '''FCM Târgu Mureș''' *Liga II: 2009–10

'''Pandurii Târgu Jiu''' *Cupa Ligii runner-up: 2014–15

'''Dinamo București''' *Cupa României runner-up: 2015–16

'''Győr''' *Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2025–26

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{BDFutbol|20075}} *{{RomanianSoccer|id=67/paul-viorel-anton}} *{{NFT player|58189}} *{{UEFA player|250028721}}

{{Győri ETO FC squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anton, Paul}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Bistrița Category:Romanian men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Liga I players Category:Liga II players Category:ACF Gloria Bistrița players Category:FC Delta Tulcea players Category:ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș players Category:CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu players Category:FC Dinamo București players Category:Segunda División players Category:Nemzeti Bajnokság I players Category:Nemzeti Bajnokság II players Category:Getafe CF footballers Category:Russian Premier League players Category:FC Anzhi Makhachkala players Category:PFC Krylia Sovetov Samara players Category:SD Ponferradina players Category:FC UTA Arad players Category:Győri ETO FC players Category:Romania men's under-21 international footballers Category:Romania men's international footballers Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Russia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Hungary Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Hungary Category:21st-century Romanian sportsmen