Kristijan Jakic is leaving FC Augsburg to join PAOK Thessaloniki on a loan deal. The Croatian international will depart the Bundesliga club until the end of the season following an agreement between the teams, as reported by Absolut Fussball.
The loan includes a mandatory purchase option for the following summer. PAOK can sign the 29-year-old permanently for a transfer fee of four million euros. Additional bonuses are agreed should the Greek club qualify for European competition. The move is set to be finalized before the Greek transfer window closes on September 15.
Why is Jakic leaving FC Augsburg?
Jakic had recently fallen down the midfield pecking order at Augsburg. With new signings Fabian Rieder and Han-Noah Massengo, other players have moved ahead of the Croatian in defensive midfield. He was recently left out of the matchday squad altogether. The club subsequently granted him permission to hold contract talks with other teams.
Jakic had been linked with a departure in the past. According to media reports, clubs including Union Berlin and Torino showed interest in the midfielder. Ultimately, PAOK Thessaloniki has secured his signature. A familiar face awaits him there: his former Augsburg teammate Dimitrios Giannoulis already plays for the Greek club.
What does the move mean for the current season?
FC Augsburg has made a perfect start to the 2026/27 Bundesliga season and leads the table with six points from two matches. Jess Thorup's team won both games and boasts an excellent goal difference of +6, having scored seven and conceded just once. The current form of two consecutive wins provides momentum.
Jakic's departure comes at a time when the squad is already well-stocked. The remaining midfielders have impressed in the opening fixtures. The next challenge awaits on September 12, when seventh-placed Bayer Leverkusen visits the WWK ARENA. The full schedule for the Fuggerstädter can be found on our fixtures page.
What was Jakic's record at Augsburg?
Kristijan Jakic made a total of 71 Bundesliga appearances for FC Augsburg. In those matches, he scored four goals and provided three assists. He captained the side on five occasions. His final goal for the club was a significant one: he scored the 2-0 in the DFB-Pokal match against Cottbus shortly before the end. "Verabschiedet sich mit einem Tor aus Augsburg: Kristijan Jakic traf beim Pokalspiel in Cottbus," the player said himself.
His contract with FCA originally ran until 2028. Through the loan with an option to buy, this contractual relationship will now end prematurely if PAOK exercises the option. The loan fee for the current season is 500,000 euros.
What is the current squad situation?
Aside from Jakic's departure, FC Augsburg must also cope with the absence of Anton Kade. The attacking player is currently injured and sidelined. The exact duration of his absence remains unclear. An overview of the current squad personnel is available in our squad section.
Despite these personnel changes, the club looks ahead to the ongoing season with optimism. The strong performances in the first two games and the top spot in the table confirm the chosen path. The team aims to carry this momentum into the important home game against Leverkusen. The precise league position can be tracked at any time on our standings page. FC Augsburg's next match is the Bundesliga fixture against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on September 12, 2026.
