Persib Strengthen Their Defense with Croatian Centre-Back Danijel Loncar

Persib Bandung have added another foreign defender to their squad ahead of the 2026/2027 season, bringing in Croatian centre-back Danijel Loncar on a two-year contract. The 29-year-old defender is expected to strengthen the heart of the defense as Persib prepare for a demanding campaign across multiple competitions.

Loncar was officially introduced at Graha Persib on Saturday, August 8, as part of an event that also included a podcast session and a donation program for the Indonesian Childhood Cancer Foundation in Bandung. His arrival was the result of a recommendation from the coaching staff, who identified central defense as one of the positions requiring additional depth.

The Croatian defender arrives with considerable experience from European football. Loncar spent three and a half seasons with Polish top-flight club Pogon Szczecin, making 74 appearances and scoring three goals. During the 2025/2026 Ekstraklasa season, he featured 28 times, including 21 starts, while contributing one goal and one assist.

Loncar began his professional career with Croatian side NK Osijek in 2017 after initially spending a season with the club's reserve team. He eventually established himself in the senior squad and made 122 appearances for Osijek, scoring four goals before moving to Pogon Szczecin during the 2022/2023 season. Standing at 189 centimeters, he is known for his strength in aerial battles and his physical presence at the back.

His arrival gives Persib greater depth in the foreign defensive department alongside Patricio Matricardi, Julio Cesar and Gabriel Mutombo. With expectations rising ahead of the new season, Persib hope Loncar's experience and defensive qualities can help the team maintain consistency and compete strongly throughout the 2026/2027 campaign.