Istra 1961 has signed a contract with Stepan Loncar, a former Rijeka player. Loncar is a defensive midfielder who previously played for Lech Poznan and Ferencvaros. He has signed a contract until 2027 and has now joined the team from Pula. Istra 1961's sports director, Saša Bjelanović, said that Loncar showed a positive attitude towards the club's invitation and motivated the club to make extra efforts to secure him. Loncar has already played in the SuperSport HNL, where he played for Rijeka between 2018 and 2021. He played 113 games with 12 goals and 14 assists, and won two Croatian Football Cups. Previously, he played for Široki Brijeg, Ferencvaros, Kortrijk, and Astana, and achieved his greatest successes with Ferencvaros, with whom he was twice the champion of Hungary and once the cup winner. He played 11 games for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Loncar terminated his contract with Lech Poznan and is now focusing on a new challenge with Istra 1961. He said he is thrilled to have joined the club and will do everything he can to help the team achieve its goals. Istra 1961 has been working on strengthening its team lately, and Loncar is one of the most important arrivals. He will certainly be an important player for the club in the coming period. Istra 1961 will continue to work on strengthening its team, and the goal is to qualify for European competitions. Loncar was an important player for Rijeka and will now be an important player for Istra 1961. He will certainly help the team achieve its goals.