Luka Ivanušec has returned to GNK Dinamo Zagreb. The midfielder has signed for the club where he previously spent four successful seasons.
Ivanušec left Maksimir exactly three years and a week ago. His departure to Dutch side Feyenoord occurred in August 2023, immediately after the first leg of the Europa League play-off against Sparta Prague, a match Dinamo won 3-1 with Ivanušec on the scoresheet. He now returns with enriched experience gained abroad.
Luka Ivanušec made his Dinamo debut in the autumn of 2019 in a victory against Atalanta. During his initial four-season stint at the club, he made 175 official appearances and scored 37 goals. In total, including friendlies, he recorded 190 appearances and 40 goals. He was a key player in midfield, capable of playing on the wing and as an attacking midfielder, and was one of the architects of the historic comeback against Tottenham Hotspur, where he played all 120 minutes. He also provided an assist in the match against Krasnodar and scored his first European goal for Dinamo against Shakhtar.
With Dinamo, he won four consecutive Croatian First Football League titles, one Croatian Cup, and two Croatian Super Cups. He played in the UEFA Champions League for two seasons and featured in European competition beyond the Champions League group stage on two more occasions with the club.
After leaving Dinamo, Ivanušec spent three seasons at Feyenoord. With the Rotterdam club, he won the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield (Super Cup), and was a Dutch runner-up. He played twice in the UEFA Champions League with Feyenoord. Last season, he was on loan at Greek side PAOK, where he played in the UEFA Europa League. He brings all this experience back to Zagreb.
"I'm returning after three years, I think I'm now more mature, more experienced, that I can help younger players, give them some advice," Ivanušec told the official gnkdinamo.hr website.
Dinamo currently leads the Croatian Football League with 13 points from five matches played. The record is 4 wins and 1 draw, with the last result being a 2-2 draw against Istra 1961 on August 29, 2026. In the last five matches, the team is unbeaten, with a run of 2 wins and 3 draws. This season, they have scored 12 goals, conceded 3, for a goal difference of +9. Ivanušec joins a team at the top of the table preparing for an important away fixture against NK Osijek, who are currently in third place, on September 12, 2026. Details of the upcoming schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
"I'm very happy to be here again, I'm pleased that we managed to get everything sorted, I can't wait to start training and matches with the team, to continue winning together," stated Ivanušec.
His versatility and experience could be of great use to the manager in squad rotation, particularly in an attack where Dinamo is already showing efficiency. An overview of all players is available on the squad page. The return of the experienced midfielder comes at a good time for a club looking to maintain its leading position in the league. The current standings can always be checked on the standings page.
Luka Ivanušec begins his second stint at Dinamo just as the club has an opportunity to stays at the top of the HNL. His first official match back could well be the one against Osijek.
