Ex-Premier League striker Nikola Kalinic who was once worth £13m signs for Croatian side Hajduk Split until end of season on 86p salary - and describes it as the 'easiest deal' he has ever made

• e-mail

A former Premier League striker has signed for Croatian side Hajduk Split until the end of the season on an 86p salary.

Nikola Kalinic, who was once worth £13million, played a major part in Croatia's 2018 World Cup campaign, where they finished in second place.

The number nine has been described as one of the best Croatian forwards in the last decade and has played for Blackburn Rovers, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Roma and Atletico Madrid.

But, after starting his career with Hajduk making his debut in the 2005-06 season, he has decided to go back for a third spell.

This came just five months after he departed at the end of his contract, and now at the age of 36 and as a free agent he accepted a €1 (86p) salary.

Nikola Kalinic poses with the No 9 shirt after re-joining his boyhood club Hajduk Split

The Croatian international has played for a host of top clubs, including Atletico Madrid

The Croatian international described it as the 'easiest deal' he has ever had to sign. 

Director Mindaugas Nikolicius said: 'Nikola returns with one aim: help Hajduk to win the title after 19 years.'

The club are currently top of the Croatian league, six points ahead of Rijeka. They have not lifted the league title since the 2004-05 season. 

He will wear the No 9 shirt that he had always worn after Aleksandar Trajkovski voluntarily gave it up and took No 27, the club said.

Despite not having played since May, he will be put on a specific training plan to be ready for coach Mislav Karoglan. 

The Croatian striker said it was the 'easiest deal' he has ever had to sign in his life

Kalinic endured a frustrating period in England as a Blackburn Rovers player after joining in 2009.

Signing originally for £6million, he scored just seven league goals in 44 appearances.

He left in 2011, joining Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine.