Ajdin Hrustic is back in the Netherlands after signing a one-year deal with Heracles Almelo for the upcoming 2025/26 Eredivisie season.
Hrustic will return to the club where he spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan from Serie A side Hellas Verona, accumulating 14 appearances and scoring one goal in the sixth-month stint.
The 29-year-old will hope the move will put him back into contention for Subway Socceroos selection ahead of next year's FIFA World Cup 2026™, having last received a call-up in November 2024.
Hrustic endured a frustrating spell with Salernitana where he plied his trade for the 2024/25 campaign, which culminated in relegation to Serie C and subsequently became a free agent.
In a statement on the club's official website, Hrustic said the decision to return to the Asito Stadium was a no-brainer.
“Heracles Almelo was fantastic last year after I went through a very difficult period at Hellas Verona due to an injury," he said.
"I've never forgotten what the people in Almelo did for me. After talking with manager Bas Sibum, I was even more enthusiastic about returning.
"He wants to play energetic football, and that suits me. My first priority is to be happy here again and also play many high-level matches. That's good for Heracles Almelo and good for me. I want to be in top shape for the World Cup with Australia in a year.”
Hrustic, who has four goals in 31 caps for his country, is no stranger to the Dutch top-flight, previously amassing 75 games with FC Groningen between 2016 and 2020.
A UEFA Europa League winner with Frankfurt, Hrustic joins Jordan Bos to have recently joined an Eredivisie outfit following his transfer to Feyenoord last week.
Heracles' first match of the new season is an away trip against Utrecht on Monday, 11 August at 12:45am (AEST).