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5 clusters · 11 sources · 25 days · First seen · Last updated

NK Osijek squad rebuild 2026

Overview

The club’s summer overhaul continued into late July. On 21 July, NK Osijek confirmed that left‑back Rok Jurišić was on the brink of a €200 000 transfer to Greek side Aris as his contract entered its final year, while discussions were under way about terminating the deal of versatile defender Emina Hasić. A closed‑door friendly against second‑division Cibalia at the Opus Arena gave coach Federico Bessone a further chance to evaluate the squad after earlier tests versus Hungarian and Hungarian‑Azerbaijani opponents, with an emphasis on off‑the‑ball positioning and aggression.

Three days later, the club added veteran left‑back Marcel Heister on a one‑year contract with an option for a second season. The 30‑year‑old, who has played for clubs in Germany, Hungary, Israel and Bulgaria and logged over 170 appearances in the Croatian league, praised Osijek’s “aggressive, attacking” project and expressed eagerness to mentor younger players. His signing marks the latest move in Osijek’s effort to replace departing talent, deepen experience in defence and solidify the team ahead of the 2026‑27 campaign.

On 28 July, Osijek faced a contract dilemma with 19‑year‑old striker Ivan Barić, whose deal expires at season’s end. The club weighed a loan to Vukovar 1991 or a permanent move to Slovenian side Lendava, while also negotiating a possible extension. Earlier in the window the team invested €75 000 in Portuguese forward Baleloza, the most costly outbound transfer from a third‑division Portuguese club, and continued to assess the roles of existing attackers Arnel Jakupović and Mexican forward Armando León as the squad shapes up for the new season.

Entities

BK Pula · BK Poreč · NK Osijek · Dean Tonejc · Ivan Barić

Timeline

  1. 19 days ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Croatian clubs announce key player moves ahead of new season

    BK Pula signs Dean Tonejc; Poreč adds Slovenian players. NK Osijek weighs loan or extension for striker Ivan Barić as his contract ends, after spending on Portuguese forward Baleloza.

  2. 22 days ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    NK Osijek signs veteran left‑back Marcel Heister

    Veteran defender Marcel Heister signs a 1+1 year deal with NK Osijek, bringing experience from Germany, Hungary, Israel and Bulgaria after 176 Croatian league appearances.

  3. 26 days ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    NK Osijek navigates key player exits and preseason test matches

    NK Osijek prepares for the new season as left‑back Rok Jurišić nears a €200k move to Greece and the team tests its squad in a closed‑door friendly against Cibalia.

  4. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    NK Osijek signs Portuguese forward Balelo from third‑tier club

    NK Osijek signed Portuguese striker Balelo (Miguel Ângelo Bastos Melo) from a third‑tier Portuguese club, with the summer transfer window in Croatia totaling roughly €375 000, far below last year’s €20 million.

  5. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    NK Osijek reshapes squad as eight players depart and new signings arrive

    NK Osijek parts with eight players after a poor season, while futsal side Osijek Kandit adds Brazilian Yuri Madruga and other signings as both clubs revamp their squads.

Sources

glas-slavonije.hr · glasistre.hr · index.hr · jutarnji.hr · kosarka24.ba · noplanetb.tportal.hr · sib.hr · sportklub.hr · telesport.telegram.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr · zivim.gloria.hr

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history