Jakov Dedić Bids Farewell to the White and Blues

Our young forward, 16-year-old Jakov Dedić, is moving abroad and has already said goodbye to his teammates and colleagues at the Club. Earlier, at the start of pre-season preparations, we reported that several renowned European clubs had expressed serious interest in him. After careful discussions with his family, Jakov ultimately decided to continue his career in Germany.

The family accepted an offer from Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, where Croatian international Andrej Kramarić has enjoyed a highly successful career. All parties involved in the negotiations have now reached an agreement, with NK Osijek receiving a transfer fee for one of its brightest young talents, along with performance-related bonuses during Jakov's time at his new club.

Although we are naturally sorry to see him leave so soon, this was not an easy decision. However, it is in the best long-term interests of the Club. Our objective is never to sell players "at any cost," but only when the sporting and financial conditions are right. When a young player receives an offer that represents outstanding recognition of both his talent and hard work—as well as the quality of our Club—we have a responsibility to consider the bigger picture. 

Our sporting director Kenneth Zandvliet also commented on Jakov's departure:
I’m naturally very sorry to see Jakov leave us; we aim to bring talented players through to our first team as quickly as possible, but when big clubs like this come calling, it also says a lot about the outstanding quality of our academy, which we’ll be fully committed to in the coming years! We wish Jakov every success and will continue to follow him closely at Hoffenheim.

 

A Testament to the Quality of Our Academy

This is not simply the departure of another gifted young player; it is further proof that NK Osijek continues to develop footballers capable of competing at the highest European level. This transfer once again highlights the excellent work being done in our Academy, which will undoubtedly continue to produce new talents ready to knock on the door of the first team.

Dedić made three first-team appearances for the White and Blues, playing a total of 26 minutes in the Croatian top flight after coming on as a substitute late in matches. He made his senior debut on 8 February away against Varaždin, before also featuring against Lokomotiva at Maksimir and Vukovar 1991 at Gradski vrt.

Most of his playing time, however, came with our U-17 and U-19 teams competing in Croatia's top youth divisions. Last season he particularly impressed with the Croatia U-17 national team, scoring an outstanding 13 goals in 15 appearances. He played a key role during the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifiers and went on to score a memorable hat-trick against Spain at the final tournament in Estonia.

 

Our Responsibility Is to Make the Best Decision

We know many of our supporters would have liked to see Jakov remain at the Club for a while longer, and we fully understand and share those feelings. However, opportunities like this do not come around often in the careers of young players. When the interests of the player, the sporting project and the Club's long-term vision all align, it is our responsibility to make the decision that serves everyone's best interests.

Moments like these are always emotional, but they also demonstrate that we are on the right path. Our Academy continues to provide young players with the ideal environment to develop, while also giving them the opportunity, at the right moment, to take the next important step towards achieving their personal ambitions.

We would like to thank Jakov Dedić for everything he has contributed during his time at NK Osijek and wish him every success, both on and off the pitch, as he embarks on this exciting new chapter.

May he fulfil his childhood dreams. Having grown up within our Club, we are confident he will continue to represent not only himself with distinction, but also the environment in which he developed as a footballer.

The doors of NK Osijek will always remain open to him.