The 25-year-old centre back, subject the necessary international clearances and VISA confirmation, joins the Club from Dutch team FC Groningen for an unknown price.
He will wear the number 24 shirt and has signed a deal that expires in the summer of 2027.
Balker, who stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, has played in all of the top two Dutch football divisions for more than 100 games, including 31 starts for Groningen in the Eredivisie last year.
“I can’t wait to collaborate with Radinio,”
He possesses excellent qualities for a modern-day defender, including quickness and athleticism, the ability to carry the ball and advance it up the pitch, and—most importantly—a seeming passion for the defensive end of the game. You can never have too many set pieces, and he poses a serious threat when it comes to attacking them.
“A great deal of work has gone into making this transition possible, and we’ve been watching Radinio for a while. We’re happy he decided to join us because there was a lot of competition for his signature, particularly from clubs in Europe.
“He demonstrated that he could compete in the Eredivisie against some excellent strikers during a difficult period for his side last season. It makes sense that Groningen wanted to hang onto him, but as he approaches the last 18 months of his contract, this is his chance to go.
“We think he has more room to grow as a player, even at the age of 25. That was supported by our initial conversation with him; he is an amazing person who is driven to keep getting better.
“I have to express my gratitude to our owner, Kevin Nagle, for approving this deal, which is among the club’s largest defender acquisitions outside of the Premier League era. In addition to the Bojan Radulović transfer fee, this is an investment that will help us both now and in the future.
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