Tian Nai Koren (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Tian Nai Koren, son of ex-Slovenian international Robert Koren, has signed with Maribor but will continue his career at Belgian side Club Brugge after the season ends.
Tian Nai Koren, one of the most promising young Slovenian footballers, will not make his senior debut for NK Maribor, despite recently signing a contract with the club. The highly rated teenager, and younger son of former Slovenia international Robert Koren, is already set to move abroad.
Several sources have confirmed that Koren will join Belgian giants Club Brugge, a club well-known for its excellent youth development system. Brugge has gained a strong reputation for nurturing young talent and transitioning players into the first team, making it an ideal destination for Koren’s next step.
Koren first gained attention at just 14 and 15 years old, and quickly caught the eyes of top scouts from across Europe. Although Maribor managed to secure his signature despite international interest, they were apparently unable to hold onto him for long.
It’s believed that a release clause in his contract allowed Club Brugge to complete the transfer, although the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. What’s clear, however, is that Maribor will at least receive a fee, rather than losing him for free—something that would have been the case had he left without a professional deal.
For Koren, the move represents an excellent opportunity to develop in a competitive environment tailored to young players. For Maribor, while they lose a top prospect before he ever plays senior football, they can take some solace in securing a return on their efforts and helping the player take a major step in his career.