Newport County's newest goalkeeper signing, Nik Tzanev, says he’s excited to get started at Rodney Parade and is focused on bringing stability, experience, and clean sheets to the team in the 2025-26 campaign.
The 28-year-old joins County with years of EFL experience under his belt and fresh off international duty with New Zealand. He’s eager to make his mark as pre-season preparations get underway.
“I’m really excited to get going. Now I’m in with the lads and the coaches, I just want to crack on, kick-start pre-season, and make sure we begin the season really strong.”
Having spent time with AFC Wimbledon and Northampton Town, Tzanev reflected on his journey through the Football League and how that has shaped him as a player.
“There’ve been ups and downs. I got my break at Wimbledon and played regularly for a few years, but the back end of my time there was tough because I wasn’t playing as much. Last season I got back into the rhythm, playing more games, and now I just want to kick on from here and help push this team up the table.”
A key factor in the move to South Wales was County’s goalkeeping coach, Lee Kendall whose influence helped seal the deal.
“Lee played a big part in the decision. I had really good conversations with him, and speaking to other goalkeepers about the club helped too. There’s a rich history here, and I want to be part of a group that helps move the club forward.”
The 6’4” stopper is also a seasoned international, having represented New Zealand at senior level and recently returned from international duty before linking up with County.
“It’s one of the biggest honours you can have in football, representing your country. Being back with the national team always gives me confidence and I hope I can take that into my performances here with Newport.”
Following early conversations with manager David Hughes, Tzanev is impressed by the club’s ambitions and playing philosophy.
“Everything we’ve discussed is positive. We want to play attacking football but also be hard to beat. We want to run teams over, keep clean sheets, and stay compact as a unit. It’s a big focus this season to be solid defensively and limit the goals we concede.”
Tzanev is also clear about his own goals, both individually and as part of the team.
“Personally, it’s about building strong relationships with the back line and keeping as many clean sheets as possible. It’s not just about the defence, and we’ve got to work together as a team.”
And as for stepping out at Rodney Parade for the first time representing the amber army?
“I’m really looking forward to it. The fans have a reputation for being passionate and I always try to build that connection with them early on. They’re there every week for us – we want to repay them with strong performances.”