Nikola Vasilj

Nikola Vasilj
Vasilj with FC St. Pauli in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-12-02) 2 December 1995
Place of birth Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Al-Diriyah
Number 22
Youth career
HNK Međugorje
2010–2013 Zrinjski Mostar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 Zrinjski Mostar 17 (0)
2014–2015 → Igman Konjic (loan) 24 (0)
2015–2016 → Branitelj (loan) 13 (0)
2017–2019 1. FC Nürnberg II 42 (0)
2019–2021 Zorya Luhansk 20 (0)
2021–2026 FC St. Pauli 162 (0)
2026– Al-Diriyah 3 (0)
International career‡
2013–2014 Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 3 (0)
2021– Bosnia and Herzegovina 30 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 August 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 July 2026

Nikola Vasilj (pronounced [nǐkola ʋǎsiʎ]; born 2 December 1995) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Saudi Pro League club Al-Diriyah and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Vasilj started his professional career at Zrinjski Mostar, who loaned him to Igman Konjic in 2014 and to Branitelj in 2015. In 2017, he joined 1. FC Nürnberg II. Two years later, he moved to Zorya Luhansk. He signed with FC St. Pauli in 2021. Five years later, he joined Al-Diriyah.

A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vasilj made his senior international debut in 2021, earning 30 caps since. He represented the nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Vasilj started playing football at a local club, before joining the youth academy of his hometown team Zrinjski Mostar in 2010.[1] He made his professional debut against Željezničar on 10 April 2013 at the age of 17.[2] In July 2014, he was sent on a season-long loan to Igman Konjic.[3] In July 2015, he was loaned to Branitelj until the end of the season.[4]

In July 2017, Vasilj signed with German side 1. FC Nürnberg.[5]

In July 2019, he joined Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk.[6]

FC St. Pauli

In May 2021, Vasilj moved to FC St. Pauli on a three-year deal.[7] He made his official debut for the team on 25 July against Holstein Kiel and kept a clean sheet.[8]

In January 2024, he signed a new long-term contract with the squad.[9]

Vasilj was an important piece in FC St. Pauli's conquest of the 2. Bundesliga title, his first trophy with the club, which was sealed on 19 May and earned them promotion to the Bundesliga.[10]

He played his 100th game for the side against FC Augsburg on 15 September.[11]

Later stage of career

In July 2026, Vasilj joined Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Diriyah.[12]

International career

Vasilj was a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 team under coach Vlado Jagodić.[13]

In March 2021, he received his first senior call up, for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Finland and France and a friendly game against Costa Rica.[14] He debuted against Costa Rica on 27 March.[15]

In June 2026, Vasilj was named in Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[16] He made his tournament debut in the opening group match against Canada on 12 June.[17]

Personal life

Vasilj's father Vladimir was also a goalkeeper and represented Croatia, as is his younger brother Filip.[18]

He married his long-time girlfriend Sara in May 2021.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 August 2026[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Zrinjski Mostar 2012–13 Bosnian Premier League 10000–100
2013–14 Bosnian Premier League 20100030
2015–16 Bosnian Premier League 40––40
2016–17 Bosnian Premier League 10400050
Total 1705000220
Igman Konjic (loan) 2014–15 First League of the FBiH 24010–250
Branitelj (loan) 2015–16 First League of the FBiH 130––130
1. FC Nürnberg II 2017–18 Regionalliga Bayern 150––150
2018–19 Regionalliga Bayern 270––270
Total 420––420
Zorya Luhansk 2019–20 Ukrainian Premier League 40000040
2020–21 Ukrainian Premier League 160302[b]0210
Total 2003020250
FC St. Pauli 2021–22 2. Bundesliga 33000–330
2022–23 2. Bundesliga 28010–290
2023–24 2. Bundesliga 34000–340
2024–25 Bundesliga 33020–350
2025–26 Bundesliga 34020–360
Total 162050–1670
Al-Diriyah 2026–27 Saudi Pro League 3010–40
Career total 2810150202980

International

As of match played 1 July 2026[21]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
202140
202220
202320
202460
202590
202670
Total300

Honours

Zrinjski Mostar[20]

FC St. Pauli[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Vasilj: Uskoro ću otkriti zašto je Vinko Marinović nekorektan prema mom sinu Nikoli". sportske.ba (in Bosnian). 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Teška povreda Zolotića, Zrinjskom bod na Grbavici". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 10 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Igman se pojačava". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 19 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Branitelj počeo sa pripremama, brojni odlasci i dolasci". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 5 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Nikola Vasilj potpisao za Nürnberg". oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Bivši golman Zrinjskog karijeru nastavlja u Ukrajini". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 16 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  7. ↑ "Nikola Vasilj karijeru nastavlja u Njemačkoj". faktor.ba (in Bosnian). 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "St. Pauli sigurnom pobjedom otvorio sezonu, uspješan debi Vasilja". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 25 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  9. ↑ "Nikola Vasilj produžio saradnju sa St. Paulijem, direktor i trener ga posebno hvalili". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "Bh. reprezentativac i njegov St. Pauli prvi put osvojili 2. Bundesligu, navijači uletjeli na teren". n1info.ba (in Bosnian). 19 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Nikola Vasilj branio 100. utakmicu za St. Pauli". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 15 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  12. ↑ "Nikola Vasilj predstavljen u Saudijskoj Arabiji, karijeru nastavlja u Al-Diriyahu". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 25 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Nikola Vasilj: Naravno da imam reprezentativne ambicije a ukrajinska liga jača je nego ljudi misle". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "Petev objavio spisak za martovske utakmice, jedno novo ime". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "BiH i dalje bez pobjede: Remi sa Kostarikom na Bilinom Polju". sportske.ba (in Bosnian). 27 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "Barbarez poslao konačan spisak FIFA-i: Jedno ime otputovalo u Ameriku, ali nije na listi". sportske.ba (in Bosnian). 3 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Šesti remi BiH u nizu, Kanada osvojila prvi bod na Mundijalima u historiji". oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 12 June 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Vratarska obitelj Vasilj: Filip ponajbolji vratar Prve lige, kuca na vrata mlade reprezentacije". hercegovina.info (in Croatian). 9 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  19. ↑ "U Čitluku se oženio golman Zmajeva Nikola Vasilj". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 27 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  20. 1 2 3 "Nikola Vasilj". soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Nikola Vasilj". eu-football.info. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
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