Dutch Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen has secured the signing of veteran Serbian attacker Dusan Tadic on a two-year contract, running until the summer of 2028.
The 37-year-old joins as a free agent after leaving Emirati club Al-Wahda.
A conversation with club investor Marcel Boekhoorn convinced the former Ajax star to return to the Netherlands.
Tadic, Serbia's record international with 111 caps before retiring after Euro 2024, had also drawn interest from another UAE club before talks collapsed.
Technical Director Praises Signing
NEC technical director Carlos Aalbers expressed strong enthusiasm about the landmark signing, highlighting its strategic fit for the squad's domestic and European campaigns.
"Sometimes an opportunity presents itself that you beforehand think is not feasible for a club like N. E.
C. Dusan Tadić is such a player," Aalbers said.
"We believe in a good mix of talent and experience and Dusan fits perfectly into that."
Aalbers noted that alignment in vision and long-term career aspirations played a central role in contract discussions.
"In the conversations we noticed that our ambitions and vision matched well.
Our sporting development, the vision of Dick Schreuder and the way he wants to play football and the prospect of a European season appealed to him enormously," he added.
He also mentioned Tadic's ambition to become a coach after his playing career.
"We also want to offer him the opportunity to develop further in that regard in the coming years.
We are therefore extremely happy that he chose N. E.
C. ," Aalbers said.
The signing continues NEC's tradition of recruiting experienced internationals, following previous additions such as Edgar Barreto, Lasse Schone, Jasper Cillessen, and Wilfried Bony.
Tadic boasts significant Eredivisie credentials, having won three league titles with Ajax in 2019, 2021, and 2022, and reaching the Champions League semifinals in 2019.
He previously played for FC Groningen and FC Twente.
Tadic is expected to join training on Tuesday as NEC prepares for the Champions League third qualifying round against Olympiakos, scheduled for August 4 and August 11.
The club has also strengthened its squad with Tobias Storm, Adam Tahaui, Kaj Sierhuis, Jamiro Monteiro, Emre Mor, Clement Bischoff, and Per Schuurs.
