GNK Dinamo Zagreb has officially presented its new signing, Spanish forward Iker Almena, this week. The young player arrives on loan from Saudi club Al-Qadsiah, with the Blues securing an option to make his transfer permanent. Almena signed for Dinamo on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Iker Almena is 22 years old and spent last season on loan at Hajduk Split. For the Whites, he made 23 official appearances and scored four goals. He will now continue his career in the blue shirt at Maksimir. Dinamo stated in its announcement that Almena is a "versatile player who will strengthen competition in the offensive part and expand the attacking potential of the Blues."
Initially, Al-Qadsiah demanded five million euros for a permanent transfer. Later, they lowered the price to three million. As Almena enters the final year of his contract with the Saudis, negotiations became more favorable for Dinamo. According to Jutarnji list, it is possible that an even lower buyout clause than the mentioned three million euros was agreed upon. This would mean Dinamo has flexibility in deciding whether to exercise the purchase option at the end of the loan. The financial aspect of this transfer will be important for the club's summer budget, which can be tracked on our stats page.
Almena is an attacker who can operate on both wing positions. If needed, he can also play as a striker or an attacking midfielder. In his career, he has even operated in midfield, and due to his responsible defensive play, he has stepped into the role of left-back. Such versatility will be of great use to the manager. Dinamo currently has several key forwards, and Almena will increase competition for those positions. The full squad roster is always available on the squad page.
Iker Almena was born on May 4, 2004, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, a suburb of Barcelona. He took his first football steps at local club UE Cornellà. He then moved to Barcelona's academy, La Masia, where he spent six years. In the summer of 2022, he joined Girona, where he played for the youth and reserve teams, and was occasionally in the first-team squad. He spent the 2024/25 season in Saudi Arabia playing for Al Qadsiah before coming to Croatia. With Dinamo, he will become the 44th player in history to have played for both the Zagreb Blues and the Split Whites in official matches.
Almena's arrival strengthens Dinamo's offensive options at a key part of the season. The club is competing in the Croatian Football Cup and the battle for the HNL title. It is currently important for new signings to integrate quickly. Almena will have the chance to show his qualities in the upcoming matches. Dinamo's next official match is on Saturday, September 12, in an away fixture against Istra 1961. The schedule for all upcoming matches can be found on the fixtures page.
