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Nikola Katić

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Nikola Katić
Katić playing for Rangers in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-10-10) 10 October 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Schalke 04
Number 25
Youth career
2001–2013 HNK Stolac
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 HNK Stolac
2014–2015 Neretvanac Opuzen 29 (2)
2015–2018 Slaven Belupo 65 (1)
2018–2022 Rangers 37 (3)
2021–2022 → Hajduk Split (loan) 21 (0)
2022–2025 Zürich 74 (7)
2025 → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 15 (1)
2025– Schalke 04 30 (1)
International career‡
2017–2019 Croatia U21 8 (0)
2017 Croatia 1 (0)
2024– Bosnia and Herzegovina 21 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 September 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 July 2026

Nikola Katić (pronounced [nǐkola kâtitɕ]; born 10 October 1996) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Schalke 04 and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Katić started his professional career at HNK Stolac, before joining Neretvanac Opuzen in 2014. Two years later he switched to Slaven Belupo. In 2018, he moved to Rangers, who loaned him to Hajduk Split in 2021. The following year, Katić signed with Zürich, who sent him on loan to Plymouth Argyle in 2025. Later that year, he was transferred to Schalke 04.

A former Croatian youth international, Katić also made his senior international debut for Croatia, before switching his allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024, earning over 20 caps since. He represented the nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

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Early career

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Katić came through the youth setup of HNK Stolac, which he joined in 2001. He made his professional debut in 2013 at the age of 16, before moving to Croatian team Neretvanac Opuzen in March 2014.[2]

In December 2015, he switched to Slaven Belupo.[3] On 7 May 2017, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over Istra 1961.[4]

Rangers

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In June 2018, Katić was transferred to Scottish side Rangers for an undisclosed fee.[5] He made his official debut for the club in a UEFA Europa League qualifier against Shkupi on 12 July.[6] On 2 August, he scored his first goal for Rangers in a UEFA Europa League qualifier against Osijek.[7] A week later, he made his league debut against Aberdeen.[8] On 20 April 2019, he scored his first league goal for the team in a defeat of Hearts.[9]

In October, Katić signed a new four-year deal with the squad.[10]

In July 2020, he suffered a severe knee injury, which was diagnosed as an anterior cruciate ligament tear and was ruled out for at least six months. Over a year after the injury, on 24 July 2021, he returned to the pitch.[11]

He won his first trophy with the club on 7 March, when they were crowned league champions.[12]

In August, he was sent on a season-long loan to Hajduk Split.[13]

Zürich

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In August 2022, Katić moved to Swiss outfit Zürich on a three-year contract.[14] He made his competitive debut for the side in a UEFA Europa League game against PSV on 6 October.[15] A week later, he made his league debut against Winterthur.[16] On 13 November, he scored his first goal for Zürich in a victory over Servette.[17]

In October 2023, Katić extended his deal with the team until June 2026.[18]

In January 2025, he was loaned to English club Plymouth Argyle until the end of the season.[19]

Schalke 04

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In July, Katić joined German side Schalke 04 on a contract until June 2028.[20] He debuted officially for the squad on 1 August against Hertha BSC, managed to score a goal and get sent off.[21]

Katić was an important piece in Schalke 04's conquest of the 2. Bundesliga title, his first trophy with the club, which was secured on 3 May 2026 and earned them promotion to the Bundesliga.[22]

International career

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After representing Croatia at the under-21 level, Katić made his senior international debut in a friendly game against Mexico on 28 May 2017. However, in April 2024, he decided that he would play for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future.[23]

In May, his request to change sports citizenship from Croatian to Bosnian was approved by FIFA.[24] Later that month, he received his first senior call-up, for friendly matches against England and Italy.[25] He debuted against the former on 3 June.[26]

On 9 October 2025, in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cyprus, he scored his first senior international goal.[27]

In June 2026, Katić was named in Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[28] He made his tournament debut in the opening group tie against Canada on 12 June.[29]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 20 September 2026[30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Neretvanac Opuzen 2014–15 Croatian Second League South 142–––142
2015–16 Croatian Second League South 150–––150
Total 292–––292
Slaven Belupo 2015–16 Croatian Football League 1000––10
2016–17 Croatian Football League 29131––322
2017–18 Croatian Football League 35021––371
Total 65152––703
Rangers 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 18110219[c]1303
2019–20 Scottish Premiership 19210108[c]1293
Total 3732031172596
Hajduk Split (loan) 2021–22 Croatian Football League 21040––250
Zürich 2022–23 Swiss Super League 22100–4[c]0261
2023–24 Swiss Super League 34410––354
2024–25 Swiss Super League 18230–4[d]0252
Total 74740–80867
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2024–25 Championship 15120––171
Schalke 04 2025–26 2. Bundesliga 26120––281
2026–27 Bundesliga 4010––50
Total 30130––331
Career total 271152023125231920

International

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As of match played 1 July 2026[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Croatia
201710
Total10
Bosnia and Herzegovina
202460
202571
202681
Total212
Career total222
Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Katić goal.
List of international goals scored by Nikola Katić[31]
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 October 2025 AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis, Larnaca, Cyprus 11  Cyprus 1–0 2–2 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 6 June 2026 Energizer Park, St. Louis, United States 17  Panama 1–0 1–1 Friendly

Honours

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Rangers[30]

Hajduk Split[30]

Schalke 04[30]

References

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  1. ↑ "Nikola Katic". schalke04.de (in German). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Bivši stoper Rangersa bi mogao pojačati Zmajeve, ovako je govorio ranije: BiH je moja zemlja". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 28 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Nikola Katić i službeno postao novi igrač Slavena Belupa". epodravina.hr (in Croatian). 10 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Slaven Belupo u pozitivnoj seriji: U Koprivnici pala i Istra". index.hr (in Croatian). 7 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "Rangers sign Croatian defender Nikola Katic from Slaven Belupo on four-year deal". skysports.com. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Rangers 2-0 Shkupi: Steven Gerrard era starts with Europa League first qualifying round win". skysports.com. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Rangers 1-1 NK Osijek (2-1 agg): Nikola Katic seals Europa League progress". skysports.com. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Aberdeen 1-1 Rangers: Steven Gerrard denied first Rangers league win by 90th-minute Bruce Anderson equaliser". skysports.com. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "Hearts 1-3 Rangers: Steven Gerrard's team put Celtic title party on hold". skysports.com. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "Nikola Katic signs one-year Rangers contract extension until 2023". skysports.com. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "Great to see – Rangers star's Ibrox appearance has these Gers fans buzzing". hitc.com. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Rangers confirmed as Scottish Premiership champions after Celtic draw with Dundee United". syksports.com. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "Rangers duo Cedric Itten and Nikola Katic loaned out for season". bbc.co.uk. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  14. ↑ "Der FC Zürich verpflichtet einen kroatischen Nationalspieler". sport.ch (in German). 31 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "Schwacher FCZ kassiert nächste Klatsche – der Meister rutscht immer tiefer in die Krise". sport.ch (in German). 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Planloser FCZ bleibt auch bei Nullnummer gegen ängstliches Winterthur sieglos". sport.ch (in German). 9 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "Der FCZ ballert sich den Frust von der Seele – Überzeugender FC Zürich bezwingt den Servette FC mit 4:1". sport.ch (in German). 13 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  18. ↑ "Der neue FCZ-Sportchef Malenovic überzeugt einen Wechselkandidat von einer Vertragsverlängerung". sport.ch (in German). 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Nikola Katić ima novi klub, bh. trener ga doveo na posudbu". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 31 January 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  20. ↑ "Schalke predstavio veliko pojačanje: Nikola Katić zvanično igrač njemačkog velikana". n1info.ba (in Bosnian). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  21. ↑ "Schalke savladao Herthu, debi iz snova za Muslića i Katića". oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  22. ↑ "Novi dan, novo slavlje u Schalkeu: Nakon promocije, od danas su i prvaci lige". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 3 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Katić o dolasku u reprezentaciju BiH: Spahić me prvi kontaktirao i došao mi kući". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 29 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  24. ↑ "Spahić govorio o Gigoviću, Đuriću, Jašiću, ali i drugima: Posao neće biti lagan". oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  25. ↑ "Ovo je Barbarezov spisak za Englesku i Italiju: Pozvano sedam novih Zmajeva". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  26. ↑ "Engleska slavila protiv BiH: Zmajevi u Barbarezovom debiju za pola sata potopljeni u Newcastleu". faktor.ba (in Bosnian). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  27. ↑ "Kakva drama do zadnje sekunde: Zmajevi u sudijskoj nadoknadi ostali bez pobjede na Kipru". depo.ba (in Bosnian). 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  28. ↑ "Barbarez poslao konačan spisak FIFA-i: Jedno ime otputovalo u Ameriku, ali nije na listi". sportske.ba (in Bosnian). 3 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "Šesti remi BiH u nizu, Kanada osvojila prvi bod na Mundijalima u historiji". oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 12 June 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Nikola Katić". soccerway.com. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Nikola Katić". eu-football.info. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
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