SC Magdeburg signs Croatian Mandic as Portner replacement

Following Nikola Portner's lengthy doping ban, Champions League winners SC Magdeburg have signed Croatian international goalkeeper Matej Mandic ahead of schedule. The 23-year-old comes from Croatian serial champion RK Zagreb, signed a three-year contract until June 30, 2028 and is eligible to play immediately, the SCM announced.

"With Matej, we are getting a very talented goalkeeper who brings international experience and a hunger for titles. We already had Mandic under contract as a replacement for Sergey Hernandez after his departure in 2026 and are happy that we were able to bring the transfer forward at short notice," said Head Coach and Sporting Director Bennet Wiegert.

Olympic participant for Croatia

The 2.05-metre-tall Mandic started his professional career at his youth club HRK Izvidac, with whom he played in the Bosnian first division from 2018 and won it in 2019 and 2021. He moved to Zagreb for the 2021/22 season, where he won four championship titles in a row. He took part in the 2024 Olympic Games with the Croatian national team.

The Swiss Portner was recently banned retroactively for 21 months after testing positive for doping in March 2024. He will therefore not be able to play in goal again until December 11. Since his colleague Hernandez recently announced that he will leave the SCM next summer, the Magdeburg team had to make a move on the goalkeeper issue anyway.