Lion City Sailors midfielder Jonan Tan will continue his development in Europe after securing a season-long loan move to Croatian second-tier side NK Dugopolje for the 2026/27 campaign.
Based near the coastal city of Split, Dugopolje finished fourth in the 12-team Prva NL last season and will be targeting promotion to Croatia’s top flight in the coming campaign.
The move puts the 20-year-old in line to become the first Singaporean footballer to play professionally in Croatia, marking another milestone in his promising journey since emerging from the Sailors’ Elite Academy.
Jonan was among the first scholars selected for the Sailors’ Elite Development Programme when it was launched in 2020. After progressing through the Academy ranks, he made his senior debut in a league encounter against Tanjong Pagar United in March 2023 at the age of just 16 years, seven months and 28 days to become the club’s third-youngest debutant.
He subsequently took up the Lion City Sailors Early Enlistment Bond, which enables selected Academy trainees to enlist for National Service (NS) after completing their secondary education. By fulfilling their military obligations by the age of 19, these players are afforded a longer uninterrupted runway to pursue professional football.
After completing his NS commitments in January 2025, Jonan moved to Portugal, where he turned out for Estrela da Amadora and FC Vizela in the Liga Revelação Under-23 competition during the 2025/26 season.
(Photo: FC Vizela)
Jonan, who received his first call-up to the Singapore senior national team in October 2025, then joined Dugopolje for a two-week trial in early May. His technical quality, deft touches, and versatility impressed the Croatian outfit enough to earn him a season-long loan move.
Dugopolje president Mario Smodlaka said, “Jonan joined us on trial at a time when our focus was largely on trying to secure promotion to the First League, but he still stood out with the quality he showed. His versatility and speed in the final third are exactly what we need.
“He is an exciting player who can operate in several positions, and the fact that he is under 21 is also a big plus for us. I hope he can show his best qualities here and open the door to a fruitful relationship between Dugopolje and the Sailors.”
Jonan is currently recovering from an injury but hopes to return in time to feature in the 2026/27 Prva NL season, which kicks off on 22 August, and play his part in Dugopolje’s pursuit of a maiden promotion to the top flight.
(Photo: NK Dugopolje)
“It has always been my dream to play professionally overseas, and I’m delighted to be joining a club and football environment that knows how to develop young players,” said the Sailors Academy graduate. “I want to thank everyone who made this move possible, and I’ll do everything I can to repay the club’s faith in me.
“I’ve already been here for a few weeks and am gradually adjusting to the tempo of the game. The training sessions have been of a really high quality, and I cannot wait to help the team achieve our goal of winning promotion.”
Jonan remains firmly in the Sailors’ long-term plans, having signed a professional contract with the club until 2029. His latest move also marks another significant step for the Sailors’ Elite Academy, which is one of only four in Southeast Asia to have been awarded Two-Star Academy status by the Asian Football Confederation under its Elite Youth Scheme.
