Heidenheim bring back Dovedan as first summer signing
Newly promoted Bundesligists 1. FC Heidenheim have brought in a familiar face as their first official summer singing.
FC Heidenheim's first offensive upgrade ahead of the new Bundesliga season is a familiar face. Austrian attacking midfielder/center-forward Nikola Dovedan will return to the club he represented for two years after stints at 1. FC Nürnberg and Austria Wien. Dovedan netted 17 goals and contributed a further 11 assists in 63 competitive appearances for Frank Schmidt's FCH between 2017 and 2019.
Following his departure from the "Schlossberg", Dovedan went on to complete three successful seasons in Nürnberg during which he scored 13 goals and registered nine assists in 98 competitive appearances for Bavaria's "der Klub". The now 28-year-old then left for his native country on a free last summer. He was available on a free this year after a one-year-deal with Austria Wien expired.
"The contact between us and Niko never broke off," club CEO Holger Sanwald remarked in a statement, "on the contrary, we were in regular exchange. Now that his contract at Austria Wien has expired, this opportunity has arisen that we definitely wanted to take advantage of. After all, Niko has proven for two years what extraordinary offensive qualities he possesses. At the same time, he also knows exactly what we will demand of him as a player."
"I am very grateful to Holger Sanwald and Frank Schmidt for this opportunity," the player himself added, "At FCH, I already felt at home during my last stint. and now I have the advantage of knowing exactly what to expect. It has always been my dream to play in the Bundesliga. That's why I can promise that I'll give everything to ensure that we manage to maintain the class as a team next season!"
Dovedan netted one goal and registered seven assists in 22 appearances for his Vienna-based club this past season.
His new contract with his old club runs through the end of the 2023/24 campaign.