Zenit defender Erakovic loaned to Red Star Belgrade

Zenit and Red Star Belgrade have agreed on a loan deal for defender Strahinja Erakovic until the end of the 2025/26 season.

Erakovic joined the St. Petersburg club on 23 July 2023. He played 85 matches for Zenit, providing five assists, and became Russian champion, winner of the Russian Cup and Super Cup. In the current season, the Serbian played 19 games in all competitions without registering a goal or assist.

According to available information, the potential buyout fee is €3.5 million. Zenit will also retain 50% of any future transfer fee. Red Star Belgrade must decide whether to activate the option by 31 August. If bought, Erakovic will sign a four-year contract with the Serbian club.

Strahinja Erakovic began playing football at the Red Star Belgrade academy at the age of nine. He made his debut in the UEFA Youth League in 2018, playing against Napoli and PSG for the U-19 team. The defender spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Grafičar, where he played 21 matches and scored two goals.

Erakovic first played for Red Star Belgrade«s first team on 1 August 2020 in a match against Novi Pazar. In total, he played 107 matches for his boyhood club, winning the Serbian championship three times and the Serbian Cup twice. He made his debut for the Serbian national team on 2 June 2022.