Hajduk sports director about Perisic: “One of the biggest transfers in the club’s history”

Returning after almost 18 years

It’s a transfer that’s bursting with football romance. Ivan Perisic is back playing for his training club Hajduk Split, which he left in 2006 as a 17-year-old to pursue a career. Now he should help the club become champions again. Sports director Mindaugas Nikolicius says at Transfermarkt: “Ivan is certainly one of the biggest transfers in Hajduk history.”

In terms of market value, only Niko Kranjcar’s from 2005 can be rated higher. His market value when he moved from Dinamo Zagreb to Hajduk was 5 million euros, while Perisic is currently valued at 4 million euros. This makes him one of the most valuable professionals in the current squad. Perisic is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season and in the summer, when his contract with Spurs expires, he will move to Hajduk for another season. This means that no more games will be added to the 50 games (1 goal/14 assists) that Perisic has played for Tottenham since 2022.

According to reports, the ex-Bundesliga professional, who played for Borussia Dortmund, VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern, will receive a monthly salary of a symbolic euro during the loan. Hajduk recently chose a similar model when bringing back striker Nikola Kalinic (35). Perisic should collect bonuses if Hajduk qualify for the group stage of a European competition. An exit clause should also be part of the agreement.

“Now that we have the biggest sporting goals, we want to have the best possible players,” emphasizes Nikolicius. Hajduk currently leads the table with 41 points from 19 games and six points ahead of Rijeka (one game less). The last championship was celebrated in 2005, and a double victory, which last happened in 1995, is also possible – Hajduk is in the cup quarter-finals. However, Perisic, who never played a professional game for Hajduk, cannot intervene in the title hunt immediately, but probably only at the end of the season. The 34-year-old suffered a torn cruciate ligament in September. At that time, he had set his sights on returning in the spring with a view to the 2024 European Championships in Germany.

It was clear that he would return to Hajduk at some point in his career.

There was already speculation about a transfer in the summer, but it wasn’t until six months later that it actually came about. “We were of the opinion that this transfer period was the right one and that it was the best fit for everyone involved,” says Nikolicius: “Ivan comes from here and is closely connected to the club. It was clear that he would return to Hajduk at some point in his career. We stay in close contact with all the players who were in our academy – some of them have had a big influence on European football. We always have our sights set on winning them back. When an opportunity arises, we are ready to act and do whatever it takes to bring her home.

The 129-time national player Perisic is “a great asset on and off the pitch” and we wish him a speedy recovery. “When he is fit again, we expect him to contribute to the team’s performance so that we can achieve our goals for the season,” emphasizes Nikolicius.

To home page