Bosnian goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic, who represented Polish club RKS Rakov, has signed a contract with Sporting for the next five seasons until 2029, the national football champion club announced on Wednesday.
A statement published on the Lisbon club’s official website said 26-year-old Kovacevic, who has been mentioned as a possible reinforcement for Benfica in 2022, has a release clause of €60 million (ME).
“I am very happy, proud and honored to be joining one of the biggest clubs in Portugal. I can’t wait to meet my new colleagues, the technical team and all the staff who work with the team. I decided and accepted very quickly, because I know that Sporting is a great club,” began Kovacevic’s words, as quoted by the Lions.
The goalkeeper admitted that “it is not easy to get into the championship team”, but assured that he is “ready to take this step” and win titles like a lion on his chest.
“The titles and legends that have passed here say a lot about this club. So staying here is like a dream come true. I hope the future will bring us more titles,” he expressed.
In conclusion, he admitted that he does not like to talk about himself much, but admitted that he has “good reflexes, he is strong in exits and confident in goal.”
The player began his career at Sarajevo, a club he represented until 2021, on loan to Sloboda Mrkonic, before heading to Poland to play for RKS Rakov.
In his first season at Czestochowa, Kovacevic made 34 official appearances, being named the best goalkeeper in the 2021/22 Polish League, and in the 2022/23 season he scored 32 goals and helped his team become Polish champions.
He made 47 appearances this season, including two against Sporting in the Europa League group stage, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Poland and a 2-1 win for Leonin. in Alvalade.
Kovacevic, a Serbian, will join Franco Israel and youngster Diogo Pinto in Sporting’s goalkeeper group for the 2024/25 season, which no longer includes the experienced Antonio Adan, who left the domestic champions at the end of his contract.