Jaka Bijol (born 5 February 1999) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Leeds United and the Slovenia national team. Initially a defensive midfielder, he switched to his current position in the 2021–22 season.
Club career On 22 June 2018, CSKA Moscow announced the signing of Bijol on a five-year contract from Rudar Velenje. On 18 September 2020, Bijol was loaned out to Hannover 96 for one year.
On 14 July 2022, Bijol was signed by Serie A club Udinese on a five-year contract for a reported transfer fee of over €4 million. In November 2023, he suffered a foot injury and was sidelined for over two months.
After three years with Udinese, for whom he made 90 league appearances and scored 4 goals, Bijol transferred to Premier League outfit Leeds United in June 2025, signing a five-year contract with The Whites. The transfer fee was reported at approximately €21 million, making him the second most expensive Slovenian footballer of all time, behind only Benjamin Šeško.
International career On 13 October 2018, Bijol debuted with the Slovenia senior team in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League match against Norway, which Slovenia lost 1–0. He scored his first goal in a friendly match against Croatia on 26 March 2022, scoring a stoppage-time goal to secure a 1–1 draw.
Bijol represented Slovenia at UEFA Euro 2024, where he was selected by football statistics portal WhoScored in the best eleven of the tournament.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRudar Velenje2017–18Slovenian PrvaLiga30300———303CSKA Moscow2018–19Russian Premier League23400—30102742019–20Russian Premier League25131—60—3422020–21Russian Premier League5000—00—502021–22Russian Premier League28120———301Total81651—9010967Hannover 96 (loan)2020–212. Bundesliga30010———310Udinese2022–23Serie A32310———3332023–24Serie A24010———2502024–25Serie A34131———372Total90451———955Leeds United2025–26Premier League2515010——311Career total2561416210901028316
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSlovenia20183020195020206020211102022101202310020241402025100202680Total771
Scores and results list Slovenia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bijol goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Jaka BijolNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–11–1Friendly
Honours CSKA Moscow Russian Super Cup: 2018
References
External links Profile at the Leeds United F.C. website