Hajduk Talent, 21, Ends Up in the 1. NL
Luka Kapulica has signed for Karlovac after failing to break through at Poljud, while Franjo Ivanović is at the center of a transfer saga between a French and an Italian club.
Luka Kapulica has signed for Karlovac after failing to break through at Poljud, while Franjo Ivanović is at the center of a transfer saga between a French and an Italian club.
While top Croatian footballers battle for multi-million euro transfers among Europe's elite, some former talents continue their careers on a more modest path. One of them is Luka Kapulica, a recent Hajduk midfielder, who at 21 has decided to continue his career with Karlovac, a member of the SuperSport First NL.
Kapulica signed a contract with Karlovac after spending last season on loan at the same club. He failed to secure a spot in the first team at the Split giants, and by moving to the second tier of Croatian football, he is seeking the continuity and playing time that eluded him at Poljud.
This transfer is part of a broader wave of young players leaving Poljud to gain experience. Hajduk coach Gonzalo Garcia confirmed that 19-year-old defender Marino Skelin is also going out on loan. "He is a player who should have a good future at this club. In my opinion, he has too many ups and downs. He needs continuity," Garcia said, adding that he believes Skelin will return with more experience and become an important player. Skelin has already played three Europa League matches this season and made his debut for Hajduk's first team in September 2024 in the Cup against Bilogora. He has so far made a total of 12 appearances for the Whites.
On the other end of the spectrum, Croatian international Franjo Ivanović (22) is at the center of one of the most intriguing transfer stories of the summer. After failing to establish himself at Benfica last season, the Portuguese club is ready to let him go, and the race for his signature is intensifying.
According to Italian insider Gianluca Di Marzio, Benfica has reached agreements with both Lazio and Lens. "It's a loan with an option to buy, which under certain conditions can become mandatory. The final decision now rests with the Croatian striker," Di Marzio reports. Ivanović joined Benfica last summer from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise for 23 million euros, but he did not get a real chance at the Portuguese club, and the management no longer sees him in their plans.
The transfer window also brings a host of other interesting news. Dinamo has officially presented Noah Nsoki (19), a winger who arrived from PSG on a free transfer, with a percentage of a future sale. Hajduk, meanwhile, has sent 20-year-old midfielder Noa Skoko on loan to Rudeš, while Vukovar has brought in Moroccan midfielder Ayman Aouri (21) from Germany's Rot-Weiß Oberhausen.
Defender Juraj Badelj has also found his path abroad, moving from Romania's Universitatea Craiova to Cypriot club Aris Limassol. According to local media reports, the Romanian club will earn around 600,000 euros from his transfer, three times the 200,000 euros they paid for him in 2023. Badelj made 26 appearances in all competitions last season and has played two so far this season.
