Espanyol Secures New Defensive Reinforcement
On August 15 in Barcelona, RCD Espanyol officially announced that they have reached an agreement with Russian giants Zenit Saint Petersburg to sign Slovenian international center-back Vanja Drkušić on loan. The arrival of this powerful center-back will be a crucial addition to Espanyol’s defensive line.
Loan Agreement Details
According to the official announcement, Drkušić’s loan contract will run until the end of the 2026/27 season. Notably, this loan agreement includes an option to buy, giving the club the possibility of signing the player permanently in the future. Drkušić has already passed his routine medical examination and will be officially presented soon.
Player Career Overview
Born on October 30, 1999, in Slovenia, Drkušić plays as a center-back. He began his football journey in the youth academy of NK Krško in Slovenia before joining the youth system of Dutch club Heerenveen, where he made his professional debut. His career has since taken him across several European leagues, with spells at Rende in Italy, NK Bravo in Slovenia, PFC Sochi and Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia, and Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.
Extensive Championship Experience and International Performance
Drkušić’s career is decorated with championship titles. During his time at Zenit Saint Petersburg, he won the Russian Premier League title with the team. After moving to Serbia, he helped Red Star Belgrade win both the Serbian SuperLiga and the Serbian Cup. On the international stage, Drkušić is an active member of the Slovenian national team and was a key player for his country at the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany, where his performances garnered significant attention. His arrival will undoubtedly bring valuable big-match experience to Espanyol.
