Hull City are working on a deal to sign Croatian forward Matija Frigan from Belgian outfit K.V.C. Westerlo, Hull Live understands.
Sources have confirmed to this publication that the Tigers plan to sign Frigan initially on loan but with a view to buying him on a permanent basis in the future. The 22-year-old has previously worked with City head coach Sergej Jakirovic at Rijeka. Frigan registered 15 goals in 32 outings Croatian outfit before moving to Westerlo in the summer of 2023 on a five-year contract after his €5.5m release clause was activated.
Frigan has played 72 times for Westerlo, scoring 19 goals. He found the back of the net on 14 occasions last term as they finished second in the standings.
City were hit with a transfer embargo by the English Football League last week after they were late making transfer payments to Aston Villa for the loan of winger Louie Barry during the 2024/25 season. Although the outstanding Barry debt has been paid off and the embargo has been lifted, the Tigers are currently operating under a transfer fee restriction for failure to meet payments in a 30-day period. It means City are unable to sign any players in this transfer window for a fee or loan players with a fee attached. The punishment will stand for the next three transfer windows, with City currently going through the process of appealing the sanction n the hope of getting it reduced.
Meanwhile, trialist Jonjo Shelvey featured for the Tigers in their behind-closed-doors friendly against Lincoln City yesterday. The former Liverpool and Newcastle United midfielder is available on a free transfer after being released by Burnley at the end of last season.
Only goalkeeper Ivor Pandur completed the full match at the club’s Cottingham training ground, with 20 outfield players each given 45 minutes of valuable playing time as Jakirovic continues to assess the squad. The Imps recorded a 2-0 win thanks to goals either side of half-time from James Collins and Jovon Makama.
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