Eintracht sign Matanovic to contract extension: "An intregal part of our team."
Eintracht Frankfurt confirmed an early contract extension for 20-year-old striker Igor Matanovic - currently on loan with the Karlsruher SC - on Monday evening.
SGE board member for sport Markus Krösche made clear in a statement accompanying the news that - once he returns from his current loan stint - Matanovic should become a regular fixture in the club's plans.
In a fairly significant piece of administrative business on Thursday evening, Eintracht Frankfurt and German-Croatian striker Igor Matanovic affirmed their long-term commitment to one another. The 20-year-old and his parent club confirmed a three-year early contract extension. SGE board member for sport Markus Krösche - in a statement accompanying the news - emphasized that the club aimed to make Matanovic a "permanent fixture".
SGE board member for sport Markus Krösche made clear in a statement accompanying the news that - once he returns from his current loan stint - Matanovic should become a regular fixture in the club's plans.
Matonovic has not yet made an appearance for his current German parent club. The RheinMain Adler immediately loaned him back out to 1. FC St. Pauli after signing him from the Kiezkicker in August of 2021. After spending two years on loan with his hometown club, Matanovic was loaned out to Baden's Karlsruher SC at the beginning of this season. He's scored ten goals and chipped in four assists in 23 league appearances for the KSC.
“Igor has a great character,” Krösche noted, “He’s ambitious and has continued to develop really well. We’re pleased he’ll play for Eintracht in the long term. We’ve showed him the path we’d like to take with him. Igor will be an integral part of our team from the summer onwards.”
"Last summer I had a taste of what it means to play in an Eintracht shirt in some friendlies,” the player himself added, "I really enjoyed that feeling and I’m happy about the faith the club have place in me. I want to pay that back with good performances from the summer onwards."
Matanovic's new contract runs through 2029.