I-LEAGUE Media Team

NEW DELHI: Pune FC has completed the signing of Montenegrin international Darko Nikac as their marquee player for the upcoming 2015 I-League season.

The 24-year-old striker joins Pune FC after spending the first half of the 2014-15 season with Montenegrin top-flight side OFK Grbalj for who he struck six times in eleven games.

As a full Montenegro-international, Darko becomes Pune FC’s marquee signing and joins fellow overseas players Luciano Sabrosa and Ryuji Sueoka in the lineup.

Chirag Tanna, Pune FC Head Operations said, “We are very pleased announce that we have signed Darko Nikac for the 2014-15 I-League season. We wish him the very best for the upcoming season.”

Karim Bencherifa, Pune FC Head Coach said, “Darko is a young striker we were following for some time now. We have taken the right amount of time to observe all the players we have signed to make sure they fit into our system. I wish Darko the best for the season ahead.”

The Titograd-born striker began his professional career at FK Mladost in 2009 on a loan spell from parent club FK Budućnost. A successful loan period at the Podgorica-based club saw him return back to FK Budućnost.

During his four-year stay at the FK Budućnost, Darko was an integral part of the team that clinched the league title in 2011-12 apart from finishing runners up on three occasions. Moreover, he also helped Budućnost to a cup title in 2012-13.

Darko also represented FK Budućnost in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League on multiple occasions before making a switch to another top-flight side OFK Grbalj at the start of 2014-15 season.

Having started his professional career as a nineteen-year-old, Darko has also represented the Under-21 national team before making his senior national team debut in 2013.

Darko thus becomes the third European player to ply his trade for Pune FC after Spanish striker Raul Fabiani (2013) and English defender Calum Angus (2013-14).