David Pejičić

David Pejičić
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-06-14) 14 June 2007
Place of birth Šempeter pri Gorici, Slovenia[1]
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Maribor
(on loan from Udinese)
Number 79
Youth career
Bilje[1]
–2021 Gorica
2021–2025 Udinese
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Udinese 0 (0)
2025–Maribor (loan) 10 (1)
International career
2021–2022 Slovenia U15 8 (2)
2022–2024 Slovenia U17 21 (5)
2024– Slovenia U19 15 (4)
2025– Slovenia U21 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 December 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 November 2025

David Pejičić (born 14 June 2007) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Slovenian PrvaLiga club Maribor, on loan from Serie A club Udinese.

Youth career

Pejičić is a native of Šempeter pri Gorici and began his career at the age of five with Bilje,[1] and later played youth football for Gorica. He was then spotted by Serie A club Udinese, which signed him in early 2021.[3] There, Pejičić was described as "looking like a veteran already" at 15 years old,[4] striking up a partnership with fellow Udinese youngster Simone Pafundi in the youth teams. At that time, Pejičić was garnering interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, especially Ajax,[5] as reported by Fabrizio Romano.[6] At the age of 15, he had already trained with the club's senior team.[1]

Club career

Pejičić signed his first professional contract with Udinese in July 2023, with the contract running until June 2026.[7]

He made his first-team debut on 1 November 2023, in a Coppa Italia match at home against Cagliari, coming on as a substitute for Etienne Camara in a 2–1 defeat.[8] Udinese coach Gabriele Cioffi commented on the maturity of his performance, stating that 'he (Pejičić) is only 16, but he played like he is 30'.[9]

International career

Pejičić represented Slovenia at youth level, playing for the under-15, under-17, under-19 and under-21 teams.[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of 2 November 2023[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Udinese 2023–24 Serie A 0 0 1 0 1 0
Career total 0 0 1 0 1 0
  1. ^ Includes Coppa Italia

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Mladi upi – David Pejičić (Udinese): Pri petnajstih trenira s člani in igra z mladinci, s kadeti pa se je uvrstil na evropsko prvenstvo". Planet Nogomet (in Slovenian). 1 April 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Profile of David Pejičić". BeSoccer. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Vijoličasti z dvema novima igralcema" (in Slovenian). Siol. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  4. ^ "[FOCUS]-David Pejicic, la carta di identità mente: il 2007 che gioca con l'Udinese in Primavera 1". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). 26 October 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  5. ^ "'Ajax heeft jonge middenvelder (16) van Udinese in het vizier'". voetbalprimeur.nl (in Dutch). 9 July 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Fabrizio Romano se je dokopal do zanimive informacije: Slovenski biser David Pejičić iz Udineseja je zanimiv velikemu klubu". Nogomania (in Slovenian). 10 July 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Pejicic signs first professional contract". OneFootball. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Udinese–Cagliari 1–2, gol e highlights: decide Lapadula al 120'". sport.sky.it (in Italian). 1 November 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Trener Udineseja Gabriele Cioffi zadovoljen s 16-letnikom iz Slovenije: "David Pejičić je na igrišču deloval, kot da bi bil star že 30 let!"". Planet Nogomet (in Slovenian). 2 November 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  10. ^ "David Pejičić – Nogometna zveza Slovenije". nzs.si (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  11. ^ David Pejičić at Soccerway