HNK Hajduk Split is traveling to Zagreb for a friendly match against Rudeš, with coach Gonzalo Garcija providing a clear picture of when the new signings could make their debuts. The club has brought in 11 new senior players since the start of the season, and the focus now shifts to integrating them into a squad currently sitting fourth in the HNL with 10 points from five matches.
According to a report by 24sata Sport, Hajduk arrived in Zagreb by plane yesterday. After the match against Rudeš, the team will continue by bus to Vukovar for a Croatian Cup round of 16 fixture against Vardar on Tuesday. A week later, they will host Slaven Belupo at Poljud. These three upcoming matches precede a important autumn period for the Split side.
When will the new signings play?
Coach Garcija clarified the current readiness of three of the new arrivals. Attacker Martín, who was regularly in the rotation at Atlético Madrid, is fully ready to play and could get an opportunity very quickly. Midfielder Fayad has already trained with the team but lacks match minutes and needs time to adapt. The experienced Leander Dendoncker, who arrived on Thursday, is in the final phase of recovery. Fayad has been inactive since May, and Dendoncker hasn't played since February, so both require preparation.
Garcija emphasized he will rely on the first-team squad, without the departed Rokas Pukštaš and Nike Sigura, and will integrate the new players gradually. "We must go to their terrain and do the job," the coach said about the upcoming match. Rudeš is a club that has been growing since entering the top flight and already has one win this season.
What does the schedule look like before the Rijeka derby?
Hajduk had a two-week break and now faces three matches before the Adriatic derby against Rijeka. After that follows a demanding week at Poljud with matches against Dinamo, Ajax, and Varaždin within just seven days. This congested schedule requires squad depth, which the new signings were brought in to provide. You can follow the full calendar on our fixtures page.
The club's financial situation, thanks to Conference League qualification and the sales of Pukštaš and Sigura, enabled this significant transfer activity. Vardar, their Cup opponent, competes in the fourth tier of Croatian football. Slaven Belupo, their next league opponent, has not started as expected and has already changed coaches.
Where does Hajduk stand in the HNL?
Before this series of friendly and cup matches, Hajduk made a solid start to the league campaign. They currently hold fourth place with 10 points, three wins, one draw, and one loss. They have scored 11 goals and conceded 5, giving them a +6 goal difference. They trail leaders Dinamo Zagreb by three points. Their next league fixture is against Slaven Belupo at Poljud on September 12, 2026. The current standings can be viewed in detail on the standings page.
Integrating new players like Martín, Fayad, and Dendoncker is key to maintaining this pace and progressing in all competitions. All squad data and statistics are available on the squad page. Hajduk's first official chance to test their new strength will be on Tuesday against Vardar in Vukovar.
