Roko Šimić Chooses Germany Over the HNL
The Croatian striker (22) leaves Cardiff City on loan to a 2. Bundesliga side, with an option to buy at the end of the season. Lokomotiva and Istra 1961 were left empty-handed.
The Croatian striker (22) leaves Cardiff City on loan to a 2. Bundesliga side, with an option to buy at the end of the season. Lokomotiva and Istra 1961 were left empty-handed.
Roko Šimić, the 22-year-old Croatian striker, is on the verge of a new transfer. Sky Germany, as reported by Index.hr, says that Šimić has already arrived in Magdeburg and is undergoing medical checks, after which he should sign a one-year loan deal with an option to buy. Cardiff City and Magdeburg have reached a preliminary agreement, and an official announcement is expected shortly.
This will be Šimić's second consecutive season in the German second tier. Last season, he spent on loan at Karlsruher, where he scored three goals in 26 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is €1.5 million.
This transfer has dashed any chance of Šimić returning to the SuperSport HNL. Lokomotiva and Istra 1961 were interested, and he also had an offer from Slovan Bratislava. However, Šimić has decided to stay in the German second division.
In Magdeburg, he will face competition in attack from 24-year-old Polish striker Mateusz Zukowski, who has been linked with interest from some Bundesliga clubs. Even if Zukowski stays, Šimić should get playing time and a chance to prove himself alongside him.
Šimić joined Cardiff from Red Bull Salzburg in August 2024, signing a four-year contract valid until the summer of 2028. British media at the time reported that the initial transfer fee was around €2 million, although the Welsh club never officially confirmed that figure.
He failed to make an impact at Cardiff. Immediately after arriving, he was sent on loan to Kortrijk, but he struggled with injuries there, and the loan was cut short in January 2025.
His best season came at Liefering in 2021/22, when he scored 19 goals in 24 appearances in the Austrian second division. After that, his career stalled: in the last four seasons combined, he has scored 14 goals, with only three in the last two seasons.
At 22, Šimić is still young enough to turn things around. This new opportunity in Magdeburg should give him exactly what he needs most: minutes, consistency, and goals. The fee Magdeburg would have to pay if they decide to trigger the option to buy has not been disclosed yet.
Šimić never made a senior competitive appearance for Cardiff. Manager Omer Riza didn't see him in his plans, believing he wasn't better than the existing attacking options, so the young Croatian was relegated to the reserve team. In 2022, GOAL listed him among the world's top 50 young players, and due to his physique and playing style, he was compared to Erling Haaland and Dušan Vlahović. He led Salzburg's youth team to the UEFA Youth League final, and his performances reportedly attracted interest from European giants like Real Madrid and Arsenal.
