HNK Hajduk Split has strengthened their attack by signing forward Carlos Martin from Atlético Madrid in the final hours of the transfer window. The 24-year-old, a product of the Spanish club's academy, joins after a proposed move to Almería collapsed due to late documentation, as reported by Index.hr Sport on Tuesday.
The club worked actively in the late phase of the summer window to increase squad depth following the departures of Rokas Pukštas to Middlesbrough and Niko Sigur to Toulouse. Hajduk qualified for the UEFA Conference League group stage by defeating Raków in extra time, their first European group stage qualification in 16 years. This created a need to bolster the squad for a demanding autumn schedule of two matches per week.
Who is Carlos Martin?
Carlos Martin is a footballer who joined Atlético Madrid's youth system back in 2008, at just six years old. He made his first-team debut for Los Colchoneros in January 2021 against Osasuna. Last season, he was on loan at Mirandés in the Segunda División, scoring 15 goals in 40 appearances. He also played for Alavés in La Liga, netting twice in 27 matches, and had a loan spell at Rayo Vallecano. Following his successful season at Mirandés, Atlético extended his contract until the summer of 2029. His transfer to Almería failed due to late paperwork in La Liga's system, which opened the door for Hajduk's swift move after the Spanish window closed.
How does he fit into Hajduk's attack?
The arrival of Carlos Martin brings competition to the forward line. Manager Ivan Leko now has Marko Livaja, Michele Šego, new signing Marin Šotiček, Dalisson, and Abdoulie Sanyang at his disposal. Martin arrives with experience from several Spanish clubs and should be a competitive option for the centre-forward position. This reinforcement comes at a key moment as Hajduk currently sits 4th in the HNL with 10 points from five games, recording three wins, one draw, and one loss. They have scored 11 and conceded 5 goals this season, with a +6 goal difference, and trail league leaders NK Osijek by just two points.
What other signings arrived in Split?
Besides Martin, Hajduk also brought in defender Marin Šotiček, centre-back Dennis Hadžikadunić, and forward Khalil Fayad from Montpellier during the summer. A very important signing was the acquisition of experienced Belgian midfielder Leander Dendoncker as a free agent, after he left Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa. All these reinforcements aim to ensure quality rotation for the double commitments. You can always check the latest league standings and goal difference on our standings page.
What did the sporting director say?
Hajduk's sporting director, Robert Graf, expressed satisfaction with completing the transfer. "We are very happy that Carlos will join our team and that we have brought in such a talented and versatile player," Graf told Index.hr. He added, "We believe Carlos has the qualities to contribute significantly to our team and we are very happy he decided to join Hajduk." Graf emphasized the club was ready to seize the opportunity that arose in the market.
Hajduk will face upcoming challenges with a strengthened squad, starting with an away match against 8th-placed Rudes on Sunday, September 6th. The full schedule of upcoming fixtures is available on our fixtures page.
