**Cardiff City Striker Roko Šimić Secures Loan Move to Karlsruher SC for 2025/26 Season**
Cardiff City have officially announced the season-long loan departure of promising forward Roko Šimić, who will spend the 2025/26 football campaign at German club Karlsruher SC. This development forms part of a broader summer of transition at Cardiff City under new manager Brian Barry-Murphy, who appears keen to reshape the squad ahead of the new Championship season.
Šimić, a Croatian striker previously regarded as a rising star at the Bluebirds, has found opportunities limited at Cardiff and now looks forward to testing himself in Germany’s second tier. The 21-year-old’s switch follows closely from Michael Reindorf’s temporary move to Newport County and signals a period of considerable squad adjustment at Cardiff City Stadium.
In a brief statement, Cardiff City wished Šimić well, confirming: “Forward Roko Šimić has joined Karlsruher SC on loan for the 2025/26 season. We send our best wishes to Roko as he embarks on this new chapter.” The club stopped short of detailing the nature of the deal further, but it is widely understood that this move offers the young striker the chance to find regular first-team football—a factor pivotal to his development.
Karlsruher SC, competing in Germany’s highly competitive 2. Bundesliga, have greeted Šimić’s arrival with significant fanfare. The German outfit described the signing as “unthinkable” not long ago, emphasising how the evolution of their footballing strategy has paved the way for such ambitious incomings. Commentary from the club indicates a clear intent to compete at higher levels and view Šimić’s arrival as a coup that would have been deemed implausible in previous seasons.
Šimić, speaking upon joining his new team, expressed excitement for the challenge ahead: “I am really looking forward to competing at KSC and in the 2. Bundesliga. In my discussions with Mario Eggimann, I was given a strong sense of my role and what lies ahead. The promise of playing time and the high level of competition made the decision easy for me. I’m eager to contribute with goals and energy, and am counting down the days until I can play at BBBank Wildpark.”
Mario Eggimann, Karlsruher’s sporting director, shared his satisfaction at securing Šimić’s signature: “From the outset, it was clear to me that Roko was motivated by this new challenge. We met at the end of last season and had a constructive conversation. Having monitored his progress for some time, we were always aware of his technical abilities and goal-scoring instinct. This signing is a testament to the effective collaboration between our coaching staff and planning team.”
Karlsruher’s management spokesman Michael Becker echoed these sentiments, reflecting on how the club’s evolving approach has enabled such signings. “Bringing in Roko exemplifies how far we have come as a team and organisation. A short while ago, we would not have dreamed of attracting talent of this calibre, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our ranks.”
Šimić leaves Cardiff at a time when the club’s striking options are being closely scrutinised. With his exit, Barry-Murphy will rely on the likes of Yousef Salech and Callum Robinson as well as Kion Etete and Isaak Davies to lead the line. The coming weeks are likely to see further transfer activity as the new manager continues to shape Cardiff’s squad in his own image.
This loan move not only offers Šimić the chance to prove himself at a demanding level, but also gives Cardiff an opportunity to reassess his development, potentially welcoming back a more experienced and confident striker next summer. Meanwhile, Karlsruher SC will hope that their ambitious acquisition pays dividends as they pursue greater success in the German second tier.
Supporters of both clubs will be watching keenly to see how the transfer plays out over the forthcoming campaign, with all eyes on how Šimić adapts to his new surroundings and what this could mean for his long-term future at Cardiff City.