Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Siara Costa
Indiana Vassilev is an American professional footballer with Bulgarian roots who plays as a midfielder for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. Born Indiana Denchev Vassilev on February 16, 2001, in Savannah, Georgia, he grew up in a family with a remarkable multigenerational connection to football.
Vassilev is the son of Dencho and Margarita Vassilev, who established their lives in the United States after coming from Bulgaria. His father was an accomplished footballer in both Bulgaria and the United States, while Indiana has revealed that his grandfather and great-grandfather also played the sport. Away from football, Vassilev previously had a publicly documented relationship with Ellie Bentley, although more recent reporting describes her as his former partner. No wife, children or siblings have been reliably confirmed publicly.
Who Is Indiana Vassilev’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Indiana Vassilev has not publicly confirmed a current girlfriend or wife through a reliable media or official club source.
One previous relationship is publicly documented. Vassilev was formerly in a relationship with Ellie Bentley, a British woman who relocated from the United Kingdom to the United States while Vassilev was playing for St. Louis CITY SC.
Coverage published in 2024 subsequently described Vassilev as Bentley’s former boyfriend, indicating that the relationship had ended by that time.
There has not been similarly reliable reporting identifying a new partner since then. For that reason, someone appearing alongside Vassilev in photographs or interacting with him on social media should not automatically be identified as his girlfriend without additional confirmation.
Who Is Ellie Bentley?
Ellie Bentley is a British woman who was previously in a relationship with Indiana Vassilev.
The couple’s relationship became publicly known during Vassilev’s time with St. Louis CITY SC. Bentley moved from the United Kingdom to St. Louis after Vassilev joined the MLS expansion club.
By 2024, however, established reporting referred to Vassilev as her former boyfriend. Therefore, Bentley should be described as Vassilev’s former partner rather than his current girlfriend.
Is Indiana Vassilev Married?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Indiana Vassilev is married.
Neither Philadelphia Union’s official profile nor recent reporting about the midfielder identifies a wife. No verified marriage announcement has been published through the major sources covering his career.
As of now, it is therefore most accurate to say that Vassilev’s current relationship and marital status have not been publicly confirmed.
Does Indiana Vassilev Have Children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Indiana Vassilev has children.
His official club and national-team profiles do not identify him as a father, and established interviews about his life and career have not reported that he has a son or daughter.
As of now, Indiana Vassilev is therefore not publicly known to have any children.
Who Are Indiana Vassilev’s Parents?
Indiana Vassilev’s parents are Dencho Vassilev and Margarita Vassilev.
The family has Bulgarian roots. Indiana has explained that his parents settled in the United States before he was born, eventually building their family life in Georgia.
Although Margarita has largely stayed outside the sports-media spotlight, Dencho’s football history is well documented. He played in Bulgaria before becoming a highly decorated college player in the United States and later competing professionally in indoor soccer.
The sporting environment created by his family had a major influence on Indiana. Football was not simply a sport he discovered independently; it was already part of his family history across several generations.
Indiana Vassilev’s Father: Dencho Vassilev
Dencho Vassilev is Indiana Vassilev’s father and a former footballer whose own career took him from Bulgaria to the United States.
Dencho played for FC Sliven in Bulgaria before continuing his education and football career at the University of Mobile in Alabama.
He became one of the most accomplished players in the early history of the University of Mobile men’s soccer program. Dencho represented the Rams from 1992 to 1994 and collected numerous individual honors.
In 1992, he was named a Third Team NAIA All-American. His performances improved further in 1993, when he earned First Team NAIA All-American recognition.
That same year, Dencho helped Mobile reach the semifinals of the NAIA National Tournament and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
He combined his athletic success with strong academic performance, receiving NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition during his college career.
After college, Dencho continued playing competitively and appeared for the Savannah Rug Ratz in the Eastern Indoor Soccer League during the late 1990s.
His accomplishments were formally recognized in 2025 when the University of Mobile inducted Dencho into its Athletics Hall of Fame.
How Dencho Vassilev Influenced Indiana’s Soccer Career
Having a former high-level player as a father meant Indiana was introduced to football in an environment where the demands of the sport were already understood.
Dencho followed his son’s development closely as Indiana progressed from local youth soccer in Savannah to increasingly competitive academy environments.
Indiana began playing with Savannah United before continuing his development with the organization that became associated with South Georgia Tormenta FC.
His performances eventually helped him gain entry to IMG Academy in Florida, one of the most prominent elite sports-development schools in the United States.
From there, Vassilev attracted interest from Aston Villa and made the enormous move from the United States to England while still a teenager.
Dencho’s own experience leaving Bulgaria to build a football career in another country gave the family firsthand understanding of the challenges that accompany such a move.
Indiana Vassilev’s Mother: Margarita Vassilev
Margarita Vassilev is Indiana Vassilev’s mother.
Unlike Dencho, Margarita does not have an extensively documented public sporting career and has generally maintained a private profile.
Her name became publicly confirmed in reporting surrounding Indiana’s first senior United States national-team opportunity in January 2025. Dencho and Margarita planned to travel from Georgia to watch their son represent the United States.
The occasion was particularly significant after years of supporting a career that had already taken Indiana from Georgia to Florida, England and several MLS cities.
Reliable sources provide relatively little additional information about Margarita’s profession or private life, so those aspects of her background should not be filled in through speculation.
Why Is Indiana Vassilev Named Indiana?
One of the most unusual parts of the Vassilev family story is the origin of Indiana’s first name.
Vassilev has explained that his name was inspired by Indiana Jones, the fictional adventurer from the film franchise.
The idea came from his father Dencho, who liked the character and chose the distinctive name for his son.
Indiana has recalled that some members of the family initially questioned the choice because of Bulgarian naming conventions, but the name remained.
For a professional player, the unusual first name eventually became one of the most recognizable aspects of his identity.
Indiana Vassilev’s Bulgarian Family Roots
Although Indiana was born and raised in the United States, his Bulgarian heritage remains an important part of his background.
His parents came from Bulgaria before establishing themselves in America, and Indiana grew up connected to both cultures.
He consequently became eligible to represent either the United States or Bulgaria internationally.
As his youth international career developed, Bulgaria showed interest in bringing him into its national-team system. Vassilev ultimately continued representing the United States, where he had already played at several youth levels.
He later made his senior U.S. national-team debut in January 2025.
Soccer Runs Through the Vassilev Family
Indiana Vassilev’s football heritage stretches considerably further than his father.
Vassilev has revealed that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather all played football in Bulgaria.
That makes Indiana part of at least the fourth generation of his family with a direct connection to the sport.
Details about his grandfather and great-grandfather, including their full names and clubs, have not been widely documented in reliable English-language sources.
However, the multigenerational connection helps explain why football occupied such a natural place in Indiana’s childhood.
Indiana Vassilev’s Grandfather
Indiana Vassilev’s grandfather was also a footballer in Bulgaria.
His name and detailed playing history have not been reliably published in major profiles of Indiana, so it would be inappropriate to assign an identity based on family-tree websites or individuals who share the Vassilev surname.
What has been directly reported is that he forms another link in a family football tradition extending across generations.
Indiana Vassilev’s Great-Grandfather
Vassilev has also said that his great-grandfather played football in Bulgaria.
This makes the family’s sporting tradition particularly unusual. Dencho did not introduce a completely new sport into the household when he played at the University of Mobile; rather, he continued a family connection that had already existed for generations.
Indiana ultimately continued that tradition at an even higher-profile level by reaching the Premier League, Major League Soccer and the United States senior national team.
Does Indiana Vassilev Have Siblings?
As of now, reliable public sources do not clearly identify any brothers or sisters of Indiana Vassilev.
Major profiles discussing his upbringing frequently mention his parents, particularly Dencho, as well as his grandfather and great-grandfather, but they do not provide confirmed names for siblings.
This should not be interpreted as proof that Vassilev is an only child. It simply means that any siblings he may have have not been sufficiently documented by authoritative public sources.
Indiana Vassilev’s Childhood in Savannah
Indiana Denchev Vassilev was born in Savannah, Georgia, on February 16, 2001.
His football development began extremely early. He played for Savannah United and later spent time within the Tormenta youth system.
Vassilev quickly became recognized as one of Georgia’s more promising young players and began receiving opportunities within the United States youth national-team setup.
Those performances eventually led him to IMG Academy in Florida, where he trained within one of the country’s most competitive development environments.
Leaving His Family for Aston Villa
Vassilev’s career took a dramatic step forward when Aston Villa recruited him as a teenager.
Moving to England meant leaving his home and family in the United States while still at an age when most players were completing high school.
Vassilev entered Aston Villa’s academy in 2017 and progressed through the club’s youth and reserve teams.
In January 2020, he made his senior debut for Villa in the FA Cup before also receiving Premier League opportunities.
His appearance in England’s top division made him one of the relatively small group of Americans to reach the Premier League as a teenager.
Indiana Vassilev’s Career Back in the United States
After additional loan spells in English football with Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town, Vassilev eventually returned to the United States.
He joined Inter Miami on loan and spent the 2021 and 2022 MLS seasons in Florida.
St. Louis CITY SC later acquired him ahead of its inaugural 2023 season, and Vassilev became an important member of the new club’s squad.
His time in St. Louis also reunited him professionally with coach Bradley Carnell, a relationship that would become important again later in his career.
Indiana Vassilev’s Move to Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union acquired Indiana Vassilev from St. Louis CITY SC in February 2025.
The move reunited him with Bradley Carnell and provided the midfielder with another opportunity to establish himself as an important MLS player.
Vassilev enjoyed a productive first season in Philadelphia, setting a personal MLS best for goals while contributing to the Union’s successful campaign.
Philadelphia subsequently rewarded him with a new long-term agreement in November 2025.
His contract is guaranteed through the 2028 season and includes a club option for 2029.
Indiana Vassilev and the United States National Team
Vassilev represented the United States throughout several youth age groups before finally earning senior recognition.
He played for the U16, U17, U18, U20 and U23 national teams and participated in the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup.
His senior breakthrough arrived in January 2025 when he was selected for the United States national team.
He made his debut against Venezuela and earned his first start days later against Costa Rica.
Dencho and Margarita planned to travel from their Georgia home to support him during the camp, providing another example of the continuing role his parents have played throughout his career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana Vassilev’s Family
Who are Indiana Vassilev’s parents?
Indiana Vassilev’s parents are Dencho Vassilev and Margarita Vassilev. They have Bulgarian roots and settled in the United States before Indiana was born.
Who is Indiana Vassilev’s father?
Indiana’s father is Dencho Vassilev, a former footballer who played in Bulgaria, became an NAIA All-American at the University of Mobile and later competed for the Savannah Rug Ratz.
Who is Indiana Vassilev’s mother?
Indiana’s mother is Margarita Vassilev. She maintains a considerably more private profile than her husband but has continued supporting Indiana throughout his football career.
Was Indiana Vassilev’s father a professional soccer player?
Yes. Dencho Vassilev played football in Bulgaria before continuing his career in the United States. He later competed for the Savannah Rug Ratz after an outstanding college career at the University of Mobile.
Does Indiana Vassilev come from a soccer family?
Yes. Indiana has said his father, grandfather and great-grandfather all played football, giving the family a multigenerational connection to the sport.
Does Indiana Vassilev have siblings?
No brothers or sisters have been reliably identified in the major public sources covering Vassilev’s family. It therefore remains unclear publicly whether he has siblings.
Who is Indiana Vassilev’s girlfriend?
As of now, Indiana Vassilev has not publicly confirmed a current girlfriend through a reliable source.
Who was Indiana Vassilev’s former girlfriend?
Indiana Vassilev was previously in a relationship with Ellie Bentley, who moved from the United Kingdom to the United States during his time with St. Louis CITY SC. Later reporting described the pair as former partners.
Is Indiana Vassilev married?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Indiana Vassilev is married.
Does Indiana Vassilev have children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Indiana Vassilev has children.
Why is he named Indiana Vassilev?
His father Dencho chose the name Indiana because of his interest in the Indiana Jones character.
Is Indiana Vassilev Bulgarian?
Vassilev was born in Savannah, Georgia, and represents the United States internationally, but he has Bulgarian heritage through his parents.
Where does Indiana Vassilev play now?
As of now, Indiana Vassilev plays as a midfielder for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. His current contract runs through 2028 with a club option for 2029.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
