Filip Benković Signs For Leicester City On A Five-Year Deal

- Leicester City agree the transfer of Filip Benković from Dinamo Zagreb
- Benković signs a five-year contract with the Club for an undisclosed fee
- The 21-year-old Croatian youth international won the league with Dinamo Zagreb last term
- He’s has featured in both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League

The 21-year-old has signed a five-year contract at King Power Stadium to join Portuguese right-back Ricardo Pereira, Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans, England youth international James Maddison, Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward and Algeria winger Rachid Ghezzal among the Club’s summer recruits.

Benković joins Leicester City after a successful 2017/18 campaign at Dinamo Zagreb in which he made 30 appearances for the Croatian side in all competitions, scoring four goals in a season that saw them clinch the league title.

The Croatian Under-21 international is a product of Dinamo Zagreb’s youth academy, and at 6ft 4ins has made a name for himself as one of Europe’s most promising and imposing young defenders.

Speaking to LCFC TV, Benković said: “I will give all my heart to this club, to all the fans, to everybody. Hopefully we’ll have a very good result this season. The ambitions of Leicester City are so big. I like the Club very much and I think it’s a very good step for me to the next level. I’m very happy to be here.”

Leicester City manager Claude Puel said: “Filip is an exciting young player who has the potential to develop even more at Leicester City Football Club. He has made a big contribution to Dinamo Zagreb over the last three years and has also benefitted from experiencing European football. I know he will give us some great options and competition in the squad and I’m delighted to have him here.”

Born in Zagreb, Benković has spent his entire playing career with Dinamo Zagreb, starting with the youth academy, before making his professional debut in July 2015 and going on to win the league with the club the following season.

The 21-year-old has played in two Champions League campaigns in 2015/16 and 2016/17 and featured for Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League last season.

Benković has won the Croatian Cup twice, in 2015/16 and 2017/18, and has represented his country at Under-17, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 levels.

The young defender will link up with his new Leicester City team-mates this week ahead of their opening game of the new 2018/19 Premier League season against Manchester United on Friday.