HERRIMAN, Utah (Wednesday, June 2, 2021) - Real Salt Lake has signed defender Toni Datković from Aris Thessaloniki in Greece’s first division, the club announced today. He will join the team on a two-year contract pending receipt of his ITC and visa.
“Toni is an excellent addition to our defensive core,” RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. “He will provide another experienced, athletic option to our roster. We can’t wait to get him on the ground in Salt Lake and acclimated with the group.”
Datković, 27, arrives at RSL after spending most of his career in his native Croatia. He started his professional career with Rijeka in 2012, though he played his two seasons there on loan to Pomorac in Croatia’s second division. From there, he spent two seasons with Zavrć and two seasons with Koper in the Slovenian first division and two seasons with Lokomotiva in the Croatian first division. In 2019, he went on loan to Huesca in Spain’s second division. Following the 2019-20 season, he made the move to Aris Thessaloniki in Greece and this year went on loan to Cartagena in the Spanish second division.
While with Koper in 2017, he made his lone appearance with the Croatian National Team, playing 90 minutes in a friendly against China. A product of Rijeka’s Academy system, Datković was in the youth system while current RSL midfielder Damir Kreilach captained the club’s first team.
“We want to welcome Toni to the team and bring him into a good crop of center backs. We think he can continue to help us grow and push the team further and fits the profile of our roster as a positive and humble player,” RSL Head Coach Freddy Juarez said. “He comes with a good pedigree and is a talented left-footed center back that can help us in distribution but also raise the quality of defending. Anytime we can add players that can help us grow in our style of play and push competition in our team, it’s a good thing.”
Real Salt Lake is 2-1-3 (9 points) in the 2021 MLS regular season and faces Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Friday, June 18 at Rio Tinto Stadium (8:00 p.m. MT, KMYU, KSL TV app, ESPN 700 radio and Latino 106.3 FM for Spanish radio).
TRANSACTION: Signed defender Toni Datković from Aris Thessaloniki on June 1, 2021.
Player Information
Name: Toni Datković
Pronunciation: DAT-ko-vich
Position: Defender
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 170 pounds
Date of Birth: November 6, 1993
Age: 27
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
Hometown: Zagreb, Croatia
Citizenship: Croatia
Last Club: Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
How Acquired: Signed on 6-1-2021
Roster Designation: 1) International
