Marko Aščić, a 19-year-old Croatian forward who made five senior appearances for Slaven Belupo, has joined HNK Rijeka on a contract that runs until 2029. The striker was the top scorer in the junior HNL for the past two seasons, scoring a total of 31 goals. He is the second player to transfer from Slaven Belupo to Rijeka this summer. Aščić expressed his happiness at joining what he considers one of the three biggest clubs in Croatia, stating his initial impressions were entirely positive. He said his goal is to use a loan to gain senior experience, score as many goals as possible, and ultimately secure a place in Rijeka's attack. The player added that his main priority is to develop through consistent game time and return to Rujevica as an improved player, describing himself as a hard-working forward who loves to score. He has 4 caps and 1 goal for the Croatia U19 national team and a current Transfermarkt market value of €100k.