Transfer of ÖFB Striker Kalajdzic to LASK Confirmed

The 28-year-old Kalajdzic, who has played 19 times for the ÖFB team, made his comeback for Wolverhampton in the Premier League last weekend after an 18-month injury break. He hopes to gather new energy at LASK for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

ÖFB Striker Kalajdzic Wants to Recommend Himself for the FIFA World Cup at LASK

"For me, it's important to get match practice," explained Kalajdzic in a statement from LASK. It is also of great importance for ÖFB team coach Ralf Rangnick that Kalajdzic, who had to recover from three cruciate ligament tears, regains his rhythm. "For me, it is also crucial that he plays regularly, that he is gradually introduced," emphasized the German at a press conference on Friday. "Because after three cruciate ligament tears, it is simply important that he stays healthy. And I think he has good chances to play there and doesn't have to play every game at all costs. LASK also doesn't play internationally. Therefore, I think he has enough recovery opportunities from game to game."

Kalajdzic, who completed the entire season preparation with Wolverhampton and knows LASK sports director Dino Buric from his time at Admira, expressed great joy about the deal on the last day of the transfer window in the Bundesliga. "For me personally, it is something very special to return to Austria - to my homeland, where my football beginnings lie and where I still have numerous family and friends - and to pursue what I have unfortunately missed painfully for the most part in recent years: playing football," Kalajdzic wrote on Instagram. "Now it's about getting back into rhythm and helping the team as quickly as possible with my performance and goals."

In Linz, the competitors of the two-meter man in the center forward position are Maximilian Entrup and Samuel Adeniran, the latter having scored once in the new season. Kalajdzic, who has previously played for Admira, Wolverhampton, VfB Stuttgart, and Eintracht Frankfurt, particularly stood out for VfB. In the 2020/21 season, the Viennese was one of the six most accurate scorers in the German top flight with 16 goals. "He is an absolute exceptional player and an asset to the entire Austrian Bundesliga," said Buric.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.