Śląsk Wrocław signs Jan Jurcec from Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih for €250,000

Transfer terms and defensive replacement

Śląsk Wrocław completed the permanent transfer of right-back Jan Jurcec from Ukrainian Premier League club Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih. The Polish club agreed to pay a fee of approximately €250,000 to secure the Croatian defender, who completed his medical tests and signed a contract valid until 30 June 2029. The acquisition directly addresses a vacancy on the right side of defense after Michał Rosiak was sold to Dutch Eredivisie club FC Twente for an estimated fee of €1 million.

Jurcec was born in Zagreb in 2000 to a Croatian father and a Polish mother, giving him dual Polish and Croatian citizenship. Sources describe the player as 25 years old, though some reports list his age as 26. In addition to speaking some Polish, he represented Croatia four times at youth international level before moving through professional leagues across Central and Eastern Europe.

Tactical role and club strategy

Śląsk sporting director Rafał Grodzicki explained that the club prioritized both position coverage and squad citizenship quotas when finalizing the move. Jurcec brings versatility across multiple roles, having played as a traditional right-back, a wing-back on either flank, an attacking winger, and a forward during his career.

Jan Jurcec is an important reinforcement of our squad. After the transfer of Michał Rosiak, the defensive line required expansion and we decided to react. For the club, it was also important that Jan has Polish citizenship. In this way, we do not disturb the national structure. He is a player who also has experience playing in other positions, also as a winger and left wing-back. We count on the experience gained in various leagues to pay off in the Ekstraklasa.

Jurcec expressed enthusiasm about the move to Poland and the opportunity to compete for the two-time Polish league champions.

This is a big challenge for me, but also a great joy to join Śląsk Wrocław. It will be a pleasure to play in a beautiful stadium. I want to quickly become an important figure in the team and I am ready for the challenges ahead.

Career path and playing statistics

Jurcec began his senior club career in Croatia with NK Kustosija Zagreb, spending four seasons in the country's second division, the PrvaNL. In 2022, he moved abroad to the Austrian Bundesliga to play for SCR Altach, where he made 59 league appearances over two seasons. He then transferred to Ukraine's Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih for the 2024/2025 season, totaling 43 appearances across all competitions for the club.

During the 2024/2025 Ukrainian league campaign, Jurcec made 30 appearances, scoring one goal and providing five assists. He enters the Ekstraklasa with existing match fitness, having already played five matches for Kryvbas during the early stages of the 2026/2027 season.

Squad restructuring and upcoming fixtures

Jurcec is the tenth player to join Śląsk Wrocław during the current summer transfer window. His arrival follows two other signings completed in early September: 47-cap Poland international Karol Linetty and Cape Verde forward Ieltsin Camoes, who joined the club on loan.

Head coach Ante Šimundža currently leads a Śląsk Wrocław squad that has gathered six points across its opening six Ekstraklasa matches. The club is scheduled to play an away match against Jagiellonia Białystok on Sunday, 6 September 2026, at 20:15 in round 7 of the league, where Jurcec and Camoes are eligible to make their debuts.