Transfers in the Ekstraklasa: Zagłębie takes a defender from Pogoń and gives the midfielder to Stal

In the best European leagues, the winter transfer window closed at the end of January, but the clubs of the Ekstraklasa can still sign players until the end of February. On Tuesday, Zagłębie Lubin and Stal Mielec took advantage of this opportunity.

Transfers in the Ekstraklasa: Luis Mata from Pogoń to Zagłębie, Koki Hinokio from Zagłębie to Stal

The new defender of Zagłębie Lubin is 25-year-old Portuguese Luis Mata, acquired on a permanent transfer from Pogoń Szczecin. FC Porto’s alumnus, playing on the left back, signed a 3.5-year contract with Zagłębie.

Mata in Pogoń was a basic left-back for a long time, winning two bronze medals in the Ekstraklasa with “Portowce” in the last two seasons. After the arrival of the Greek Leonardo Koutris, he became an unnecessary player in Szczecin, so he will be able to improve his numbers in the Ekstraklasa in Lubin. In the Polish top flight, Mata made 61 appearances, in which he assisted his teammates’ goals five times. Still in autumn, he played 13 league matches in Pogoń, and also played in the Europa League qualifiers.

There are many indications that this is not the end of winter transfers to Zagłębie Lubin, which is also working on the return of former Polish representative Jakub Świerczok to Lubin. According to Filip Trokielewicz from MKSZaglebie.pl, the 30-year-old striker, who recently had to face allegations of doping, has already undergone medical tests in Zagłębie, but the club from Lubin still has to reach an agreement with the Japanese club Nagoya Grampus, whose footballer Świerczok remains.

On Tuesday, Zagłębie acquired one player, but also gave one away. The new-old player of Stal Mielec was the Japanese midfielder Koki Hinokio, who was on loan from Zagłębie do Stal in autumn 2021 (14 matches, goal and assist in the Ekstraklasa).

This time, the less than 22-year-old footballer, who has a total of 29 appearances in the Ekstraklasa, joined Stal on a permanent transfer and signed a contract until the end of June 2025.