Help Düsseldorf “immediately”
©IMAGO
This article first appeared on January 30 at 6:49 a.m. and was updated following the announcement of the move.
Marin Ljubicic is moving from Union Berlin to the 2nd league, but not to FC Schalke, but to Fortuna Düsseldorf. The 23-year-old center forward signed a loan contract for the second half of the season on Friday.
According to “Sky”, the deal for the attacker, who came to Köpenick from LASK for 4.5 million euros in the winter of 2025, does not contain a purchase option. The Croatian was most recently linked to Schalke before the club surprised them by signing Edin Dzeko.
Ljubicic shuttled between the stands and the bench this season and played his first 20 minutes of play on the 16th and 17th Bundesliga matchdays, in which he scored two goals. Goal threat that the relegation-threatened Fortuna urgently needs, because with 17 goals after 19 games they have by far the weakest offense in the league.
“With Marin we are gaining a polyvalent offensive player who is both a goal threat himself and prepares opportunities for others. He brings a high level of quality that immediately helps our game. We are all the more pleased that he has chosen our path and our club,” said Fortuna sports director Sven Mislintat on Friday. Ljubicic added: “The discussions with Fortuna were very clear and honest – that immediately gave me a good feeling. I’m looking forward to my time here in Düsseldorf, I want to get involved quickly and help the team with my qualities. Now it’s about working hard together and getting points.”
Ljubicic is the third winter signing at Fortuna Düsseldorf
For Düsseldorf, Ljubicic is the third newcomer of the winter and the 15th of this season. Most recently, Satoshi Tanaka from Sanfrecce Hiroshima came in for the defensive midfield for a transfer fee of 900,000 euros and center forward Jordi Paulina from BVB II for 350,000 euros. In the rumor mill the table is 16th. also linked to right-back Christopher Olivier from VfB Stuttgart II.
In coach Markus beginning’s squad, who has scored 0.91 points in eleven games since taking office in mid-October, Ljubicic is the fourth center forward alongside Paulina, Zan Celar and top scorer Cedric Itten. At 2.5 million euros, the Croatian, together with central defender Jesper Daland, has the highest market value in the team.
