Jakov Pranjić (24), an attacking midfielder with championship-winning experience in Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the new signing for Gorica. He arrives on loan with an option to buy, bolstering the squad just before Sunday's clash with Hajduk.
HNK Gorica confirmed on Monday the arrival of Jakov Pranjić, a 24-year-old attacking midfielder returning to Croatian football after stints abroad. Pranjić joins Velika Gorica on loan with an option to buy, and his unveiling came just five days before the derby against Hajduk at the City Stadium.
Gorica's new signing is primarily an attacking midfielder but is equally adept on the wing. Such versatility gives the coach additional tactical options, especially during a demanding fixture schedule when rotation in the attacking line is necessary.
Pranjić developed through the youth ranks at Bjelovar and Jarun, where he took his first serious senior steps. It was at Jarun that he signed his first professional contract in January 2025, opening the door to more serious football.
His strong performances in the Croatian second tier quickly attracted attention from clubs outside Croatia. Later that same year, he transferred to HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, where Pranjić got the chance to play in the top tier of Bosnian football and win the league title.
His time in Mostar was his first foreign stop, after which he moved to Slovenia in early 2026 to sign for NK Celje. With Celje, he gained experience playing on the European stage and finished the 2025/26 season by winning the Slovenian championship. Trophies and international matches represent valuable capital for a player now returning to the HNL.
The loan with an option to buy allows Gorica to assess Pranjić's performance and integration into the squad during the season. For the player himself, this is an opportunity for consistent playing time and proving himself in a familiar environment, after experiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and on the European stage.
His arrival is timed just before the big clash with Hajduk, scheduled for Sunday, August 16. Gorica thus enters that match with a new attacking asset, and Pranjić will look to make his mark right from the start of his return to Croatian football.
