The midfielder joins CLFC weeks after making his international debut against the United States
Charlotte, NC (Thursday, February 16, 2023)- Crown Legacy FC today announced the Club has signed midfielder Nikola Petkovi膰 from Serbian top-flight club FK 膶ukari膷ki.
The midfielder will occupy a Crown Legacy FC international roster slot on the Club鈥檚 2023 roster.
Petkovi膰, 19, most recently debuted for the Serbian National team in a 2-1 victory over the United States National Team on January 25 in Los Angeles, CA. The defensive midfielder played 81 minutes during his first cap for Serbia.
鈥淣ikola is a great example of how we are approaching 91快活林最新版 NEXT Pro strategically through alignment with the first team and long-term roster planning. The addition of Crown Legacy FC allows our Club to target and sign a vast array of young, international talent that was not necessarily possible in years prior,鈥 said Technical Director Bobby Belair. 鈥淣ikola is an elite talent who has debuted on the international stage who is known for his defensive prowess in the midfield but is equally adept as a distributor. We are grateful Club ownership trusts in our long-term strategy to invest in young talent, both abroad and domestically, as we strive to develop into a top organization in North America.鈥
Petkovi膰 is a product FK 膶ukari膷ki youth set up and has been a constant fixture in the Serbian club鈥檚 midfield since joining the First Team with 18 appearances across all competitions. The 19-year-old made his European debut featuring in a Europa Conference League match in 2022.
鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to sign Nikola, a player who is excited to join our organization and trusts the carefully crafted developmental plan we have laid out for him as he settles into a new club and culture here in the United States,鈥 said Sporting Director Zoran Krneta. 鈥淣ikola is a player we鈥檝e been tracking for some time and has put in top performances in his domestic league. Recently, he caught the attention of a lot of big clubs after his breakthrough into the Serbian national team, and getting his signing over the line expeditiously is a testament to the backing we have from ownership to make deals like this possible. We鈥檙e extremely proud of the work being done throughout our sporting department from the Academy, through Crown Legacy FC and up to the first team, as we continue to lay the foundations of our organization for the present, but also a sustainable model for the future.鈥
The midfielder was a mainstay in the Serbian youth international ranks prior to making his senior team debut. Petkovi膰 earned 31 appearances across all youth national team age groups, including three matches in UEFA Under-19 Euro 2022 where he captained the U-19 Serbian team.
Transaction: Crown Legacy FC signs midfielder Nikola Petkovi膰 from FK 膶ukari膷ki
Name: Nikola Petkovi膰鈥
Position: Midfielder
Height:鈥 5鈥11
Date of Birth: February 23, 2003
Age:鈥19鈥
Hometown:鈥痁renjanin, Serbia
Last Club: FK 膶ukari膷ki
How Acquired:鈥疉cquired via permanent transfer from FK 膶ukari膷ki
