In Ajdin Hrustic, Eintracht Frankfurt have signed a player with a rich and varied background, both on and off the pitch. The 24-year-old was born and grew up on the outskirts of Melbourne but has spent a number of years since then in England, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. As a youth player, he featured for Nottingham Forest, Austria Vienna and FC Schalke 04, with whom he won the 2013 Western Germany B-Junioren championship.
In 2014, the 6’0” midfielder signed youth terms with Groningen and worked his way up through the U-19s and reserve team before signing his first professional contract a year later. He made his debut with the first team in April 2017, and went on to carve himself a niche in the squad, making 18 appearances in each of the 2017/18 and 2018/19 campaigns. Last season, the left-footer – who has a powerful shot and the kind of assurance on the ball that sees him dribble through defences – played in 25 of the 26 matches before the Coronavirus pandemic put an end to the Eredivisie season, racking up three goals and as many assists.
As well as an eye for goal, right-winger Hrustic – who is equally at home in an attacking midfield role – is a dead-ball specialist who has already made a mark for his country, setting up three goals in as many senior appearances to date for Australia. In addition to his Australian citizenship, Hrustic also holds passports for Romania via his mother and Bosnia and Herzegovina via his father.
He has signed a contract with Eintracht that will keep him at the club through to 2023, and has been given the No.7 jersey.
Over the past three years, Ajdin has put in consistent performances in the Dutch league and at 24, he is yet to achieve his full potential.
Board member Fredi Bobic
“Ajdin Hrustic is a versatile and committed midfielder who adds to our options on the wings and through the middle,” said board member Fredi Bobic.
“Over the past three years, Ajdin has put in consistent performances in the Dutch league and at 24, he is yet to achieve his full potential. We’re convinced that Ajdin’s international experience, adaptability and technical skills will see him settle in perfectly both at Eintracht and in Frankfurt, and we really look forward to taking him to the next level in his career.”
