PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are tapping into Slovenia’s football pedigree with the signing of Dejan Petrovic, making him the first player from the European nation to join the club.
The Southern Tigers’ latest recruit arrives after a three-year stint with Croatian side HNK Rijeka.
The 28-year-old played a key role in Rijeka’s historic domestic double triumph last season, helping the club win both the SuperSport HNL title and the Croatian Football Cup.
“It was only last year he won the top-flight double in Croatia, and now Dejan Petrovic joins another champion,” JDT said on Thursday (on July 2)
Petrovic, who has earned 15 caps for Slovenia national football team and plays alongside Benjamin Šeško, will wear the No. 21 jersey for JDT and is expected to strengthen the club’s midfield.
His most recent appearance for Slovenia came in last year’s World Cup qualifiers.
Petrovic’s arrival follows the signing of Iranian forward Shahab Zahedi, who brings valuable experience from Avispa Fukuoka in Japan’s J1 League. The 30-year-old has also featured for Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine and Persepolis F.C. in Iran.
