Latest news with #DinamoZagreb
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Augsburg sell Dion Drena Beljo to Zagreb
Croatian striker Dion Drena Beljo's time in the Bundesliga has officially drawn to a close. Augsburg officially confirmed the sale Beljo to Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday evening. Both clubs agreed not to divulge the terms of the transfer, but earlier reports suggested that Augsburg pocketed a €5m transfer fee while negotiating an additional €2.5m in bonuses. Beljo departs German football having scored only five goals in 45 competitive appearances for the Fuggerstädter. Beljo joined Augsburg on a €3m deal from NK Osijek in the January 2023 transfer window. All five of his top flight goals came under previous FCA head coach Enrico Maaßen that spring and earlier the following year. After taking over for Maaßen in the autumn of 2023, Jess Thorup had no use for Beljo and he was loaned out to Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga last year. A decent season on loan in the Austrian capital (16 goals across all competitions) did actually lead to new FCA head coach Sandro Wagner to attempt and convince Beljo to remain. 'After his loan spell at Rapid Vienna, we laid out an FCA future for Dion at the start of pre-season and held several talks with him,' Augsburg managing director Michael Ströll noted in a club statement. 'He nevertheless expressed his desire to return to his home country. After constructive talks with Zagreb, we were able to find a solution that suits all parties and have acceded to his transfer request.' 'I would like to thank those responsible at FCA for making my move to Zagreb possible,' the player himself added. 'A new chapter is beginning for me at Dinamo Zagreb and I am delighted to be back home.' GGFN | Peter Weis
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona continue to closely monitor 16-year-old attacking prodigy for next summer
FC Barcelona have been closely monitoring Cardoso Varela for some time. The Catalan club's interest in the Portuguese talent began during his time at FC Porto but intensified after his move to Dinamo Zagreb, following a complicated exit from Portugal while still a minor. Links to Varela continued this summer, and reports emerged claiming that Barcelona were working on a deal worth €5 million in fixed fees plus €20 million in performance-based add-ons. However, the 16-year-old wonderkid signed a contract renewal with Dinamo Zagreb until 2028 this summer, closing the doors on an exit. Barcelona continue to track Varela But, SPORT now reports that Barcelona continue to follow Varela closely ahead of the next summer transfer window. The young winger continues to make waves and was one of the standout performers in Dinamo Zagreb's latest pre-season match on Saturday against Ukrainian side FC Kryvbas. The 16-year-old came off the bench and made an impact, scoring the goal that made it 4–1. Just four minutes later, in the 82nd minute, after a well-timed run into space, he delivered a pass into the penalty area that resulted in an own goal. All of this came within only 30 minutes on the pitch. The upcoming season is expected to be one of growth and consolidation in Croatian top-flight football for Varela. However, Dinamo manager Mario Kovacevic is proceeding with caution. This approach comes in part due to a recent injury scare. Earlier in July, Varela left a training session with discomfort, but the issue turned out to be minor. Regardless, Varela's latest top-level display with Dinamo Zagreb's first team is further evidence of why Barcelona have shown strong interest. As such, the club is working on a plan for the Portuguese winger to join the team in the summer of 2026, when he will be close to turning 18. Barcelona enjoy a positive relationship with the player's agent, Andy Bara, who also represents Dani Olmo and Joan Garcia, further strengthening their chances.


STV News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Dundee United make tenth summer signing as Ivan Dolcek joins on loan
Dundee United have made their tenth signing of the summer as Ivan Dolcek joins on loan from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda. The 25-year-old Croatian winger has signed for Jim Goodwin's men for the duration of the upcoming season. Dolcek is a product of the Dinamo Zagreb youth system and has also played for their rivals Hajduk Split. He has represented his country at every age group from under-18 to under-23, but has yet to make a breakthrough into the senior team. Goodwin will now add him to his squad for the 2025/26 campaign and United also have an option to buy if the loan move is a success. As the move was confirmed on Friday, the Dundee United manager said: 'We're thrilled to secure Ivan's services – he's a really exciting addition to the playing group. 'A fearless ball carrier, Ivan's immense technical ability combined with a first-class delivery into the area make him a constant threat on either flank. 'He also has an eye for goal both inside the box and from further afield, capable of producing moments of magic which can change the course of a game in an instant. 'I have no doubts our supporters will thoroughly enjoy watching him throughout his time at Tannadice, and we hope he can realise his full potential in the Scottish Premiership.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


Scotsman
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
From Aberdeen to Zagreb: The Scottish football phenomenon that is no longer raising eyebrows
McKenna move and Miller speculation another example of why it's not just English clubs that want our players Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It was interesting to note the picture of Scott McKenna arriving at Zagreb airport that has been circulating on social media. He is captured meeting a Croatian delegation from Dinamo Zagreb, the Scotland defender's latest club. The reason the photograph catches the attention is not just because McKenna looks every bit as happy as anyone who has just a signed 'multi-year' contract - as it's been described – with the Croatian giants should look. Also drawing focus is the state of the two, it might even be three, suitcases that are included in the picture beside him. They appear be in pretty good condition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How can that be possible? They ought at the very least to look slightly battered. McKenna's career itinerary now reads like the tour stops of a rock band on a second-album-fans'-consolidation tour: places include Aberdeen, Nottingham, Copenhagen, Las Palmas and now Zagreb, where judging by the reaction, he's been welcomed with considerable enthusiasm by the locals who admire his intrepidness. Scott McKenna spent last season at Las Palmas and has now signed for Dinamo Zagreb. | AFP via Getty Images As for back home, the news has been greeted more matter-of-factly. 'Aye, I see that's McKenna away to Zagreb,' people are noting with a shrug. I mean, when two Scots have just lifted the Scudetto and another triumphed in the Italian Cup, it will take something pretty special to register on the Scots abroad Richter scale. There's also Max Johnston at current Austrian Bundesliga champions Sturm Graz. All this seems very pertinent as speculation continues about where Johnston's former Motherwell teammate Lennon Miller will be playing football come the Autumn internationals. Abroad? 'Yeah, Potentially,' said his dad, the former Aberdeen forward Lee, last week. Miller appears ideally suited to playing on the continent. About to turn 19, it might be early for the talented midfielder to make such a move, but he looked mature beyond his years while making his full Scotland debut against Liechtenstein in June. He's already comfortable wearing the captain's armband at Fir Park. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So many examples for Scots to look at He might look towards Scott McTominay, a current demigod at Napoli, and think yes, I quite some fancy some of that. Then there's Oli Burke, more successful on the continent than he is in Britain it seems. His adventures continue with Bundesliga side Union Berlin next season. Perhaps it's understandable that tales of Scots abroad seem somewhat ten a penny these days. A friend recently sent a picture from a bar in Prague. As well as the Tour de France, where a Scot Oscar Onley is currently making an impact, the TV sport options being offered were the Champions League qualifier between Malmo and FC Iberia 1999 and 'Hamilton v Hearts in the Scottish Legue (sic) Cup'. Borders are increasingly irrelevant and have been going that way for a long time in fact. Players such as McKenna are becoming as recognisable abroad as they are in the streets of say, England, where Scottish footballers were and still are found in large numbers. Lennon Miller could be the next Scot to move abroad. | Getty Images Scots were perhaps slow to take up these far-flung opportunities, while clubs abroad were also slow to explore the Scottish market. Now, however, it's a case of go west, young man (Ryan Gauld is at Vancouver Whitecaps while Johnny Russell scored as recently as two weeks ago for Real Salt Lake City)– and east, north and south. Dundee's Fin Robertson even spent part of this summer training with Sergio Ramos and co at CF Monterrey. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jason Cummings recently featured in an entertaining episode of Open Goal. 'I love it mate – it's a different world out there,' reported the striker, who is now playing for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan. The 29-year-old doesn't sound in a hurry to come back although he is of course nearer to where he now plays international football for Australia. Cummings' quote about it being a different world might be verging on Ian Rush's immortal observation that swapping Liverpool for Juventus was 'like going to a different country'. However, it seems a fair assessment, underlined by him describing pre-match scenes that included a 'ten-year old boy riding a horse waving a flare'. He was further enticed by his agent's discovery that there was 'Kingfisher on tap' in Kolkata. Cummings is having a ball and might not be thinking too deeply about the whys and wherefores of playing abroad and how it's helping his own development, as a person as well as a player. Miller might be different.


BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
McKenna signs for Zagreb after Las Palmas exit
Scotland centre-half Scott McKenna has signed for Dinamo Zagreb after leaving Las Angus-born 28-year-old, who triggered a release clause after relegation from La Liga, has signed a "multi-year" contract with the club who finished runners-up in Croatia's top flight last played 31 times, all but two of them starts, for Las who has 39 Scotland caps, came through Aberdeen's youth system before breaking into the first team at Pittodrie. He was sold to Nottingham Forest in helping Forest win promotion to the Premier League, he lost his place amid injury problems and moved on loan to Danish Superliga club left in August for Las Palmas, where he played in the same side as Scotland capped striker Oli they was unable to prevent Las Palmas finishing second bottom of the Spanish top were pipped to the title by Rijeka on head-to-head basis despite having a better goal difference after the rivals finished level on points last they have earned direct entry to the Europa League and will start the season under new head coach Mario Kovacevic.