Pune FC sign Montenegrin striker

Pune FC has completed the signing of Montenegrin football international Darko Nikac as their marquee player for the 2015 I-League season that kicks off Saturday.

The 24-year-old striker joins the Pune outfit after spending the first half of the 2014-15 season with Montenegrin top-flight side OFK Grbalj for whom he struck six times in 11 games.

As a full Montenegro international, Nikac becomes Pune FC's marquee signing and joins fellow overseas players Luciano Sabrosa and Ryuji Sueoka in the lineup.

"We are very pleased announce that we have signed Darko Nikac for the 2014-15 I-League season. We wish him the very best for the upcoming season," Chirag Tanna, Pune FC head operations said.

"Darko is a young striker we were following for some time now. We have taken the right amount of time to observe all the players we have signed to make sure they fit into our system. I wish Darko the best for the season ahead," Pune FC head coach Karim Bencherifa said.

Nikac striker began his professional career at FK Mladost in 2009 on a loan spell from parent club FK Buducnost. A successful loan period at the Podgorica-based club saw him return back to FK Buducnost.

During his four-year stay at the FK Buducnost, Darko was an integral part of the team that clinched the league title in 2011-12 apart from finishing runners up on three occasions. Moreover, he also helped Buducnost to a cup title in 2012-13.

Darko also represented FK Buducnost in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League on multiple occasions before making a switch to another top-flight side OFK Grbalj at the start of 2014-15 season.

Having started his professional career as a 19-year-old, Darko has also represented the U-21 national team before making his senior national team debut in 2013.