Croatian midfielder completes Royals move
We are very pleased to announce that attacking midfielder Alen Halilovic has agreed to join Reading Football Club on a one-year deal.
The 25-year-old Croatian came through the youth ranks at Dinamo Zagreb and has since gone on to gain top-flight experience in Spain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands with the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan, before spending his first season in the Championship with Birmingham last term – now, he’s ready to wear the blue and white hoops in Berkshire!
Having secured the services of Halilovic, Royals manager Veljko Paunovic said: “Creativity in any team is vital and Alen is a clever attacking midfielder with vision and an abundance of talent. Even though he has only just turned 25, importantly he has Championship experience on his CV and he has played professionally across Europe and for his country, Croatia. I am very pleased we have been able to bring Alen to the club and I look forward to working with him on the training pitch.”
Dubrovnik-born Halilovic learned his trade in the youth ranks of Dinamo Zagreb. He made his professional debut for his boyhood club in September 2012 in an ‘Eternal Derby’ clash with Hajduk Split – and in doing so became the youngest debutant in the history of the club, at the age of 16 years and 101 days.
The following month, Halilovic found the net against Slaven Belupo to become the youngest goalscorer in the history of the league, at the age of 16 years and 112 days – breaking the record set in November 2010 by his former teammate Mateo Kovacic. Later that year, he became the third youngest player to feature in the Champions League as he came off the bench against Paris Saint-Germain.
Having scored eight goals in 62 appearances for Zagreb – picking up two league titles and a Croatian Cup winners’ medal along the way – Halilovic was snapped up by Barcelona in May 2014, and debuted for the senior side in a 4-0 Copa Del Rey win over Elche. It was with Sporting Gijon that he made his La Liga breakthrough, scoring five times in 37 appearances for his loan club during 2015-16.
Hamburg SV came calling for his services in July 2016 – he made an instant impact with a debut winner against FSV Zwickau in the DFB-Pokal. And he would return to Spain on loan for both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons – earning regular top-tier football during two years with Las Palmas.
Halilovic made the move to AC Milan ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, where he would represent the Rossoneri on three occasions in the Europa League before making a loan move to Standard Liege for the second half of the season. The following season was spent in the Netherlands at Heerenveen, where he made 20 appearances before COVID-19 caused the season to be abandoned in April 2020.
The playmaker’s first taste of the rigours of Championship football came last season with Birmingham City, who he joined as a free agent in November 2020 – he made 17 appearances for the Blues and grabbed a stunning match-winner against Queens Park Rangers in February 2021.
On the international stage, Halilovic rose through Croatia’s youth ranks since Under-14 level – often playing well above his age-group. His earned a first senior international cap in June 2013, coming on as a sub Portugal – a fixture that pitted him against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and saw him become the youngest senior international in Croatian history.
And with most of the 2021-22 campaign yet to come, Halilovic is a Royal! He has been handed the number 7 shirt, and as usual the deal is subject to ratification from the relevant football authorities.
Chief Executive Dayong Pang said: “We’re delighted to bring Alen to the club. He will add further depth to our squad and will bring with him a wealth of creativity which can only benefit the team. I’m excited to welcome him to Reading and see him represent the Royals very soon!”
Welcome to Reading, Alen!
