Eintracht Frankfurt has confirmed the loan of Croatian defender Hrvoje Smolcic to Turkish Süper Lig side Kocaelispor. The Bundesliga club announced the move on Saturday, stating that the loan agreement is valid until the end of the current season and includes an option for Kocaelispor to make the transfer permanent.
Smolcic joined Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2022, arriving from HNK Rijeka. During his two seasons with the club, he participated in 32 competitive matches, scoring two goals. The 25-year-old previously spent a loan spell with Austrian Bundesliga team LASK Linz last season, where he featured in 33 games and recorded three goals.
The departure sees Smolcic join Kocaelispor, a team based in the city of Izmit, which has returned to the top flight of Turkish football after a 16-year absence. Despite the loan, Smolcic’s contract with Eintracht Frankfurt remains in effect until 2027.
