GNK Dinamo Zagreb has completed the signing of Spanish winger Iker Almena. The player arrives on a one-year loan from Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah, with Dinamo holding an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
Almena will join the Blues on his 22nd birthday. This information was reported by Index.hr Sport. Dinamo currently sits third in the HNL with 10 points from four matches, just two points behind leaders NK Osijek. In the next round, on September 5th, Dinamo will host HNK Gorica, who are 10th in the table. The club has scored 11 goals so far this season while conceding only three.
Why did Almena choose Dinamo?
Iker Almena spent the previous season on loan at Hajduk Split. He made 21 official appearances for the Whites, scoring three goals and providing three assists. Hajduk failed to agree on an extension of the loan deal due to the financial conditions set by Al Qadsiah. After it became clear he would not return to Split, Almena completely removed all Hajduk-related posts from his Instagram profile.
That decision sparked strong reactions from Hajduk fans. Offensive comments appeared on his posts. Supporters called him, among other things, a "p*čko izdajnička" (whore traitor) and "Judo". One comment read "Picko jedna izdajnicka", and another said "Il imaš dušu il si iker almena od čovika".
What kind of player is Iker Almena?
Almena is a 22-year-old attacking player who primarily operates on the right wing but can also play in other forward positions. He started his career in the youth academies of several Catalan clubs and established himself in senior football at Girona. Al Qadsiah purchased his rights in 2024 for five million euros. His contract with that club runs until the summer of 2028.
Dinamo plans to register Almena for the Europa League. His addition should provide extra quality in attack, where he will compete for a starting spot. The team's current league performance, with three wins and one draw, shows the attack is already functioning well. You can follow all team statistics on our stats page.
How will he fit into the current squad?
Almena's arrival creates additional competition for the wing positions. The coach will now have more options for rotation and tactical adjustments depending on the opponent. This is especially important given the congested fixture schedule with European competitions. Dinamo will have to fight on two fronts as the season progresses, and squad depth will be significant.
The club has had a solid start in the first four HNL rounds, and the focus now shifts to the upcoming challenges. The goal is to continue the run of good results and close the gap to the leading Osijek. An overview of all upcoming matches can be found on our fixtures schedule. Almena might make his official debut for Dinamo as early as the match against Gorica, if registered in time. His loan deal runs until the end of the 2026/2027 season.
