# Filip Bilbija (Филип Билбија)
**Filip Bilbija** (born 2000 in Berlin) is a German professional footballer who plays as a versatile attacking midfielder and forward for Derby County. Born in Berlin to parents of Serbian and Montenegrin descent, he spent his entire career in Germany, from Tennis Borussia Berlin through [Ingolstadt](https://www.edgepedia.org/ingolstadt), Hamburger SV, and [SC Paderborn 07](https://www.edgepedia.org/sc-paderborn-07), before moving to English football in 2026.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2000, Berlin, Germany; parents of Serbian and Montenegrin descent[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) |
| Position | Attacking midfielder / forward; right-footed; 189 cm, 78 kg[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) • [2](https://fbref.com/en/players/f5047e6d/matchlogs/2025-2026/summary) |
| German club record | 237 matches and 59 goals for German clubs across all competitions[3](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/filip-bilbija/spieler) |
| Paderborn years | 98 appearances and 35 goals in all competitions, 2023 to 2026[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) |
| 2025/26 season | 17 goals in all competitions; Paderborn promoted to the Bundesliga via the play-offs[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) |
| Current club | Derby County, three-year deal signed as a free agent ahead of 2026/27[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) |
## Youth career in Berlin
Bilbija started out in his home city with Tennis Borussia Berlin before moving to Hertha Zehlendorf in summer 2016.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) The German Football Association (DFB) records one Under-19 appearance for Hertha 03 Zehlendorf in 2017/18, in the junior [DFB-Pokal](https://www.edgepedia.org/dfb-pokal), and three appearances for the Berlin U-18 selection in the Länderpokal in October 2017, in which he scored twice.[3](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/filip-bilbija/spieler)
## FC Ingolstadt
After impressing in Berlin youth football, Bilbija joined FC Ingolstadt's Under-19 squad for the 2018/19 season, playing 24 matches in the A-Junioren Bundesliga Süd/Südwest, and was promoted to the senior ranks the following season.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) • [3](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/filip-bilbija/spieler) He spent three seasons of first-team football with the Bavarian club, mostly in the 3. Liga, and achieved promotion from the third tier via the play-offs against VfL Osnabrück in 2021.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija)
His 2021/22 season in the 2. Bundesliga drew attention elsewhere: he played 28 league matches and scored seven goals, and HSV sporting director Jonas Boldt described him as a young and very versatile attacking player whose development the club wanted to advance.[3](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/filip-bilbija/spieler) • [4](https://www.hsv.de/news/hsv-verpflichtet-filip-bilbija)
## Hamburger SV
On 3 June 2022 Bilbija moved on a free transfer from the relegated Ingolstadt to [Hamburger SV](https://www.edgepedia.org/hamburger-sv), signing a contract dated to 2026 after passing his medical check.[4](https://www.hsv.de/news/hsv-verpflichtet-filip-bilbija) His single season there brought limited playing time: 13 2. Bundesliga appearances with one goal, plus two DFB-Pokal matches and one appearance in the [Bundesliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/bundesliga) relegation play-offs, and one match for HSV II in the Regionalliga Nord.[3](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/filip-bilbija/spieler)
## SC Paderborn 07
Bilbija switched to SC Paderborn 07 and spent three seasons there from 2023 to 2026, totaling 98 appearances and 35 goals in all competitions.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) His output rose steadily: 5 goals and 5 assists in 27 league games in 2023/24, then 9 goals and 7 assists in 33 league games in 2024/25.[5](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/filip-bilbija-125726/career)
**The 2025/26 breakthrough.** His best season on record came in 2025/26, when his 17-goal tally in all competitions played a vital role in Paderborn's promotion.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) In the 2. Bundesliga he scored 15 goals with 2 assists in 29 matches, and notably scored all four [Paderborn](https://www.edgepedia.org/paderborn) goals in a 4-3 win over FC Magdeburg.[5](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/filip-bilbija-125726/career) • [1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) He capped the season with a header in extra time of the promotion play-offs against [Wolfsburg](https://www.edgepedia.org/wolfsburg), a 2-1 home win on 25 May 2026 in which he played the full 120 minutes, which sent the [North Rhine-Westphalia](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-rhine-westphalia) club to the top tier of German football.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) • [2](https://fbref.com/en/players/f5047e6d/matchlogs/2025-2026/summary)
## Derby County
After completing his contract in Germany, Bilbija became a free agent and joined Derby County, becoming the club's third summer signing ahead of the 2026/27 season on a three-year deal secured by head coach [John Eustace](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-eustace).[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) The move brought his first experience of English football.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) Soccerbase records his signing date as 22 July 2026 on a free transfer.[6](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=122755)
## Playing style
Bilbija is described as a versatile attacking player, listed as a midfielder by Derby County and as a striker by the Bundesliga's official site, and deployed in match records as an attacking midfielder, forward, and winger.[1](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija) • [7](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/filip-bilbija) • [2](https://fbref.com/en/players/f5047e6d/matchlogs/2025-2026/summary) HSV noted at his signing that he was particularly at home on the left wing.[4](https://www.hsv.de/news/hsv-verpflichtet-filip-bilbija) His 2025/26 season combined scoring with high physical output: 231.3 km covered, 324 sprints, and a top speed of 32.05 km/h across 28 league appearances.[7](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/filip-bilbija)
## References
1. [Filip Bilbija, Derby County official player page](https://www.dcfc.co.uk/teams/player/filip-bilbija)
2. [Filip Bilbija 2025-2026 Match Logs, FBref.com](https://fbref.com/en/players/f5047e6d/matchlogs/2025-2026/summary)
3. [Filip Bilbija Spielerprofil, DFB Datencenter](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/filip-bilbija/spieler)
4. [HSV verpflichtet Filip Bilbija, hsv.de (3 June 2022)](https://www.hsv.de/news/hsv-verpflichtet-filip-bilbija)
5. [Filip Bilbija Career Stats & Match Log, Field Insider](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/filip-bilbija-125726/career)
6. [Filip Bilbija, Soccerbase](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=122755)
7. [Filip Bilbija Player Profile, Bundesliga.com](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/filip-bilbija)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › German footballers born 1995 onward*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license