Branimir Mlačić is leaving HNK Hajduk Split for a loan spell at English club Watford. The move for the young goalkeeper, for whom Hajduk received 4.5 million euros last winter, was agreed this week, as reported by Index.hr Sport.
Mlačić will join Watford on a one-year loan deal that includes a purchase option. Italian and English media reported that Watford manager Alessio Dionisi insisted on strengthening the squad, which has a problem with a lack of quality defensive solutions. Dionisi said: "Talijanski mediji ističu da se Udinese ovim potezom ne odriče igrača, što potvrđuje i uključena opcija otkupa ugovora."
How did the transfer come about?
Branimir Mlačić joined Hajduk at age 11 via the academy of Trogir 1912. He played 19 official matches for the first team before being sold to Italy's Udinese in January 2026. He signed a contract with the Udine club until the summer of 2031. Now, just half a year later, he has returned to Udinese's ownership but is immediately heading out on loan to England. Both Watford and Udinese share the same owner, which facilitated the entire operation.
What is the situation at Hajduk?
Hajduk currently sits in 4th place in the HNL table with 7 points from 4 matches. Their record shows two wins, one draw, and one loss, with a recent form of WWDL. The team has scored 9 goals, conceded 5, for a positive goal difference of +4. In the title race, they trail leaders NK Osijek by 5 points. Their next challenge comes on Saturday, September 6th, with an away fixture against 8th-placed Rudes. Details of upcoming matches can be found on our fixtures page.
Why is the Championship a good step for Mlačić?
Premier League hopefuls Watford compete in the Championship, a league considered extremely physically demanding. For the 19-year-old goalkeeper, who is already a standard member of the Croatian U-21 national team, this is seen as an ideal step in his development. He will get the chance for regular minutes at a high competitive level, which should help him mature as a player. Hajduk has already reaped the financial benefit of his transfer, and now Mlačić's further progress will be watched on a different stage. The current squad of the Whites can always be reviewed on the squad page.
What does this mean for Hajduk's goalkeeper situation?
The departure of Mlačić, although he has been owned by Udinese for some time, further highlights the need for stability in the goalkeeper position. Hajduk has held its own well in the new HNL season so far, as shown by the data on our stats page. The club has clear objectives in the league and will need to rely on existing options between the posts. Branimir Mlačić's contract with Udinese runs until June 30, 2031.
