Transfers
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Maglica Swap Germany for Turkey as Kocaelispor Complete Defender Arrival
Croatian defender Matej Maglica has joined Turkish side Kocaelispor from SV Darmstadt 98 in a confirmed transfer completed on 22 August 2026, adding Bundesliga experience to the Kocaeli outfit.
Croatian defender Matej Maglica has completed a transfer from SV Darmstadt 98 to Kocaelispor, with the move officially sealed on 22 August 2026. The 27-year-old arrives in Turkey after a productive spell in Germany's second tier, where he established himself as a regular starter and an unlikely goal threat from the back.
At a glance
- Age / Position: 27 / Defender
- Deal: Permanent transfer, 22 August 2026
- Clubs: SV Darmstadt 98 → Kocaelispor
Career context
Maglica's route to this point has been a steady climb through European football's middle tiers. He began his senior career in Switzerland with FC ST. Gallen, where he made his professional breakthrough before earning a move to Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart in January 2022 via a loan deal. That loan became a permanent switch in July 2022 for €450K, but regular game time remained elusive at the highest level. A return to the 2. Bundesliga followed in July 2023 when SV Darmstadt 98 secured him on loan, a deal made permanent the following summer for €1.6M.
During his time in Germany, Maglica collected two runner-up finishes in the Schweizer Pokal while at ST. Gallen, a reminder of his early promise. His progress was briefly interrupted by injuries in early 2024 — a hamstring issue in January and a knee problem in February — but he recovered to anchor Darmstadt's defensive line throughout the 2025 season.
How he fits at his new club
Kocaelispor, founded in 1966 and based in Kocaeli, play their home football at the Yıldız Entegre Kocaeli Stadyumu, a 35,000-capacity venue with a grass surface. The club competes in Turkey's top flight and will be looking to add stability to a defence that benefited from Maglica's physical presence and aerial duelling strength.
Standing 198cm tall and weighing 95kg, Maglica brings a commanding frame to the backline. His API-Football attributes rate his defensive output at 69 and duels at 100, suggesting he wins the physical battles that define Turkish football. His technique score of 60 indicates he is comfortable bringing the ball out from the back — a trait increasingly valued in modern defending.
While his attacking contribution is modest — an attack attribute of 42 — his ability to arrive late in the box has proven valuable. Across all competitions in 2025, he scored eight goals, including two in the DFB Pokal and six across 2. Bundesliga fixtures. This knack for finding the net from set pieces or loose balls offers Kocaelispor an additional goal-scoring avenue from a defensive position.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
Recent numbers
Maglica's 2025 season with SV Darmstadt 98 was defined by durability and consistency. He made 33 appearances across all competitions, starting 27 and coming off the bench in eight. His 2,450 minutes on the pitch represent a significant workload, underscoring his reliability.
In the 2. Bundesliga, he featured in 30 matches, accumulating 2,201 minutes — an average of over 73 minutes per appearance. His defensive output included 43 tackles, 43 interceptions, and 18 blocks. He won 152 of 239 duels (64%) and maintained a pass accuracy of 81% from 1,363 total passes.
In the DFB Pokal, his impact was even more pronounced. Across three appearances, he scored twice and posted a 7.47 rating — the highest of his career in a single competition. His duels won percentage there climbed to 53% (16 of 30), and he completed 171 passes at 78% accuracy.
His overall 2025 rating settled at 7.03, with 168 duels won from 269 contested. He contributed 10 key passes and maintained a disciplined profile with only three yellow cards and a single yellow-red incident across the full season.
Key takeaways
Maglica represents a defender who combines physical dominance with surprising goal threat:
| Metric | 2. Bundesliga (2025) | DFB Pokal (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Apps | 30 | 3 |
| Minutes | 2,201 | 249 |
| Goals | 6 | 2 |
| Duels Won | 152/239 (64%) | 16/30 (53%) |
| Rating | 6.99 | 7.47 |
- Joins Kocaelispor with 33 appearances and 2,450 minutes of top-level German football under his belt from 2025.
- Brings a 69-rated defensive attribute and 100-rated duelling ability, ideal for the physicality of Turkish football.
- Scored 8 goals across all competitions in 2025, offering rare goal threat from a defender.
- Recovered from early-2024 injuries and delivered a full, consistent season for Darmstadt.
- Adds Bundesliga-level experience to a Kocaelispor side playing at a 35,000-capacity stadium in Kocaeli.
His arrival signals intent from Kocaelispor to bolster their defensive options with a proven, physical presence who can also contribute goals when the occasion demands it.