The first signing of the new season of the Chinese Super League!Jinmen Tiger introduced a Croatian midfielder and signed a two-year contract with zero transfer fee

The first foreign signing of the new season of the Chinese Super League was announced - according to the official disclosure of the Osijek club: 27-year-old Croatian midfielder Ivan Fiolić terminated his contract with the team ahead of schedule and joined Tianjin Jinmen Tigers as a free agent. According to Fiolić, he will report to his new club on January 3 next year on a two-year contract.

Official announcement map

The 27-year-old Ivan Fiolić is 1.76m tall and can play in multiple positions as a midfielder, midfielder and winger. In 2014, Fiolić was promoted to the first team of Dinamo Zagreb, but due to the fierce competition within the squad, he was loaned out to Lokomotiv Zagreb (Dynamo satellite) for the 2015/16 season. With his outstanding performances, Fiolić became the captain of Lokomotiv and was reclaimed by Dynamo in the summer of 2016.

Fiorici during the Dynamo period

For the next two years, Fiolić hovered between the main and the substitutes. With the rise of Olmo and the addition of Olschic, Fiolić was completely reduced to a fringe at Dynamo and switched to Belgian powerhouse Genk in the summer of 2018. In the summer of 2021, Fiolić accepted an offer from his mentor Nénad Bjelica (current Union Berlin manager) to sign a three-year contract with Osijek.

Fiolić

In Osijek's first season, Fiolić was largely in the mainstay, scoring five goals in 30 appearances in all competitions, before Ivica Kuleševich took over the reins and Fiolić gradually lost his place in the main team. This season, Fiolić's situation has not changed, which has also led him to the idea of leaving.

In the 17th round of the Croatian Union, Osijek drew 0-0 with Rijeka, Fiolić made a rare start, but after only 50 minutes, he was replaced early due to a shoulder injury. After that, Fiolić received an invitation from Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and asked Osijek to terminate the contract.

Fiolić

In the end, Fiolić and Osijek parted peacefully and signed a two-year contract with Tianjin Jinmen Tigers: "I want to go to China to play football and join Tianjin Jinmen Tigers." My goal was very clear, which was to stay as long as I could, and I got some very positive feedback from some of the sources around me. I am very happy to be joining Jinmen Tigers. I signed a two-year contract and I'm sure I'll get used to everything there very quickly. ”

In terms of position and characteristics, Fiolić is the replacement for the departing foreign player Rosa, and the Croatian midfielder will join his new club on the 3rd of next month and participate in winter training with the team.