The centre-back had been loaned to Plymouth by FC Zürich, where he had been under contract since the summer of 2022. Before that, Katic had spells at clubs including Glasgow Rangers and Hajduk Split. Over the past few years, he has made more than 250 professional appearances and scored 17 goals. Both FC Schalke 04 and FC Zürich have agreed not to disclose the details of the transfer.

“With Nikola Katic, we are adding an internationally experienced central defender, who stands at an impressive 1.94 metres tall and is excellent in aerial duels. He is an aggressive and physically imposing defender. Nikola worked with Miron Muslic at Plymouth, so he is already familiar with his expectations and methods from training with him on a daily basis,” explained Youri Mulder, director of professional football.

“With his skill set, Nikola will be a valuable addition to our squad. He has the qualities to take on a leadership role within the team. I’m pleased we were able to complete the transfer at this early stage of pre-season, so Nikola can integrate fully into our preparations and be part of our training camp in Stubaital next week,” said head coach Miron Muslic.

“Playing for Schalke 04 and in the 2. Bundesliga in Germany represent a great challenge for me. I didn’t need to think twice about accepting their offer. The fact that Miron Muslic is my coach is just one of the factors that convinced me. I’m coming to Schalke to contribute to the team’s success with my performances,” said Katic.