Young Croatian striker Jakov Dedić made his debut for the second team a month after transferring from Osijek to Hoffenheim and immediately found the net. His goal earned a point against Hansa Rostock.
Just over 30 days after arriving from Osijek for a fee of approximately 850,000 euros, Jakov Dedić, the 16-year-old Croatian striker, has opened his German chapter in the best possible way. In his first official appearance for Hoffenheim's second team, he immediately found the back of the net with a goal that secured a point. NK Osijek confirmed they received the transfer fee for their player and that the contract includes performance-related bonuses based on Dedić's future appearances.
Hoffenheim II hosted Hansa Rostock in the first round of the German Third Division, and the visitors took the lead twice. Andreas Voglsammer put Rostock ahead as early as the 13th minute, but nine minutes later Yasin Zor equalized to make it 1-1. Voglsammer struck again in the 33rd minute, and it seemed Hansa would go into the break with the advantage.
That's when the young Croatian took center stage. In the 44th minute, Dedić received the ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a precise strike that hit the crossbar and went in for the final 2-2. His debut was capped off with a fantastic goal that quickly went viral on social media. What makes it even more special is that Dedić scored his first goal against the experienced Hansa Rostock, a club that competed in the 2. Bundesliga last season. For the young forward, this is a valuable first step in senior football, especially after recently playing at the U-17 level.
In early July 2026, Hoffenheim brought Dedić in from Osijek for a fee of around 850,000 euros, including bonuses tied to future appearances. The German club immediately emphasized that one of Croatia's most promising players would develop through the U-23 team and gradually prepare for senior competition. Hoffenheim's plan is for him to progress with the U-23 squad and join the first team when he's ready.
At this year's European Under-17 Championship in Estonia, Dedić caught the attention of scouts from across Europe. Although Croatia didn't reach the semi-finals, in a 3-2 group-stage win over Spain, he scored all three goals and finished the tournament as the top scorer of the final stage. Those three goals earned him the Golden Boot for the final tournament. Including qualifiers, he scored eight goals in the entire cycle, which was also the best among all participants.
