Hull City Pursues Toni Fruk Amid Ajax Interest

Hull City’s first summer in the Premier League spotlight is beginning to take shape, and at the centre of it sits one name: Toni Fruk.

The newly promoted club are in active talks over a deal for the Rijeka attacking midfielder, testing the waters on a move that would bring one of Croatia’s most inventive playmakers to East Yorkshire. The interest is real, the conversations are ongoing, and the race is far more crowded than it initially looked.

A coveted creator

At 25, Fruk has become a serious target for Hull’s recruitment team as they search for craft and end product in the final third. His reputation at Rijeka has grown on the back of sharp vision, clever angles and consistent attacking output. He looks exactly the type of player a promoted side leans on when the Premier League starts to squeeze.

This is not a done deal, though. Those close to Rijeka are already playing down the idea that anything is imminent. One insider has stressed that “a deal is not as close as people are making out,” a pointed reminder that these talks are still in their early stages and that Hull are operating in a competitive marketplace.

They are not the only ones at the table. Two other Premier League clubs have registered serious interest, while Ajax have also stepped in, with all four sides making contact in recent days. The chase has become a genuine contest.

Rijeka stand firm as bidding heats up

That level of attention changes the landscape. It ramps up the pressure on Hull to act decisively and makes every conversation with Rijeka more delicate.

The Croatian club know what they have. Fruk is one of their key players and, even with just a year left on his contract, they are expected to hold firm on a valuation in the region of £8–10 million. For Hull, that is a significant outlay, but it is also the going rate for a creative midfielder with proven numbers and suitors of this calibre.

Ajax’s presence alone underlines the scale of the task. When a club of that stature enters the picture, hesitation can be fatal.

Jakirovic connection gives Hull a card to play

Hull’s pursuit of Fruk is not an isolated punt; it sits within a broader plan. Promotion has forced the club to sharpen their focus, and creativity in midfield has moved near the top of the agenda as they look to assemble a squad capable of staying up, not just making up the numbers.

The strategy is clear: multiple new faces, but with defined roles rather than scattergun signings. Fruk fits that thinking.

Manager Sergej Jakirovic knows him well from their shared time at Rijeka and is understood to see him as a natural fit for the creative role he wants to unlock in this side. That familiarity matters. It offers Hull a personal link that rivals cannot easily replicate and gives the player a clear picture of how he would be used.

Fruk, for his part, is said to be open to working with Jakirovic again. That could prove crucial when it comes to the final decision.

Professional to the last, but ready for the next step

None of this means Fruk will force his way out. The Croatian has built a strong bond with Rijeka, where he has made 139 appearances and scored 32 goals, and those close to him expect him to handle the situation with full professionalism. He is not about to disrespect the club that helped shape his career.

For Hull, the path is straightforward in theory, far harder in practice: meet Rijeka’s asking price and convince Fruk that the Premier League, and this project in particular, represents the right next step.

Right now, the picture is sharply defined. Hull are in talks. Ajax are involved. Premier League rivals are hovering. And Toni Fruk, one of Rijeka’s leading lights, looks increasingly likely to move before the summer window closes.

Hull City have fought their way back to the big stage. The question now is whether they are prepared to pay, and to move fast enough, to bring in a player who could announce their return with real authority.