Jakov Medić (born 7 September 1998) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club VFL Bochum, on loan from Eredivisie side Ajax.[2][3]

Jakov Medić
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Zagreb, Croatia
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
VFL Bochum
Number 13
Youth career
2007–2009 Kustošija
2009–2012 HAŠK
2012–2015 Hrvatski Dragovoljac
2015–2016 Zagreb
2016–2017 Istra 1961
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Istra 1961 2 (0)
2017 Lučko 1 (0)
2017–2018 Vinogradar 16 (2)
2018–2019 1. FC Nürnberg II 26 (2)
2018–2021 1. FC Nürnberg 0 (0)
2019–2021SV Wehen Wiesbaden (loan) 30 (2)
2021 SV Wehen Wiesbaden 19 (3)
2021–2023 FC St. Pauli 59 (5)
2023– Ajax 6 (1)
2024–VFL Bochum (loan) 10 (0)
International career
2022 Croatia U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 January 2023

Career

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Born in Zagreb, Medić started his career in local clubs Kustošija and HAŠK, before moving on to play in top-tier U17 and U19 Croatian competitions for Hrvatski Dragovoljac and NK Zagreb, before going on trial and signing for Istra 1961 during his last year of eligibility as a youth player. In the Pula-based club, Medić made his senior debut in the Prva HNL coming on for David Puclin in for David Puclin in the 58th minute of their 2–0 away loss to Slaven Belupo.[4] Medić was capped only once more for the team, before leaving the club in the summer of 2017.

Initially signing for Lučko in the Druga HNL and playing a single match for them, Medić moved on in August 2017 to the high-flying third-tier club NK Vinogradar. During the winter pause Medić went on a trial with Dinamo Minsk, which did not pan out, and the player missed the second half of the season.[5]

In the summer of 2018, however, Medić made a move abroad, signing for 1. FC Nürnberg,[5] playing for their fourth-tier reserves. In 2019, he moved on a two-year loan to the 2. Bundesliga team SV Wehen Wiesbaden.[6] Relegated with the team, Medić remained with Wehen Wiesbaden despite the club's relegation to 3. Liga, and, becoming a key player for the team, the club made his move permanent, signing him on a contract until 2024.[7]

In June 2021, FC St. Pauli announced Medić would join the club for the 2021–22 season.[8]

On 6 August 2023, Medić signed for Dutch club Ajax on a five-year deal.[9] On 12 August 2023, he scored a goal on his debut against Heracles Almelo.[10]

On 20 August 2024, Medić returned to Germany and joined VfL Bochum on loan with an option to buy.[11]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 30 November 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
NK Istra 1961 2016–17 Croatian First League 2 0 2 0
NK Lučko 2017 2. NL 1 0 1 0
NK Vinogradar 2017–18 3. NL 0 0 1 0 1 0
1. FC Nürnberg II 2018–19 Regionalliga 26 2 26 2
SV Wehen Wiesbaden 2019–20 2. Bundesliga 13 0 0 0 13 0
2020–21 3. Liga 36 5 2 0 38 5
Total 49 5 2 0 51 5
FC St. Pauli 2021–22 2. Bundesliga 30 1 4 1 34 2
2022–23 2. Bundesliga 29 4 1 2 30 6
2023–24 2. Bundesliga 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 60 5 5 3 65 8
Ajax 2023–24 Eredivisie 6 1 0 0 3[a] 0 7 1
VfL Bochum (loan) 2024–25 Bundesliga 10 0 0 0 10 0
Career total 154 13 8 3 1 0 163 16
  1. ^ Three appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ "Jakov Medic". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Jakov Medić at Soccerway
  3. ^ Jakov Medić at WorldFootball.net
  4. ^ Jakov Medić - 2016-2017 - Istra 1961 at hrnogomet
  5. ^ a b Jakov Medić iz Mladine u Bavarsku, potpisao za FC Nürnberg at sportnews.hr
  6. ^ Wehen Wiesbaden: Jakov Medic kommt für zwei Jahre at liga-zwei.de
  7. ^ "Wehen Wiesbaden verpflichtet Jakov Medic fest vom 1. FC Nürnberg". kicker (in German). 11 January 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Der FC St. Pauli verpflichtet Innenverteidiger Jakov Medić". FC St. Pauli (in German). 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Ajax contracteert Jakov Medić" (in Dutch). Ajax. 6 August 2023.
  10. ^ Inan, Johan (13 August 2023). "Jakov Medic geeft met beauty en ijzeren instelling visitekaartje af bij Ajax: 'Mensen zagen nooit talent in me'" [Jakov Medic gives Ajax a business card with beauty and an iron attitude: 'People never saw talent in me']. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  11. ^ "VfL nimmt Jakov Medić per Leihe unter Vertrag" [VfL signs Jakov Medić on loan] (in German). VfL Bochum. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
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