SC Paderborn have officially confirmed the signing of former Bayern Munich attacking prospect Gabriel Vidovic from Dinamo Zagreb. The newly promoted Bundesliga club have reportedly paid approximately €3m for the 22-year-old, making him the most expensive signing in club history. Get German Football Newsreported last week that Paderborn were closing in on the €3m acquisition of Vidovic. The deal has now been completed, with the Augsburg native returning to Germany only one year after departing Bayern permanently.
Paderborn’s investment comfortably surpasses their previous transfer record. Kevin Stöger and Nick Proschwitz had jointly occupied the top spot. Both cost approximately €1m. For Vidović, the move represents another opportunity to finally establish himself as a Bundesliga regular.
The attacker initially came through the youth ranks at Augsburg before joining Bayern at the age of 13. His breakthrough at reserve level arrived during the 2021/22 campaign, when he registered 21 goals and ten assists in the Regionalliga Bayern. Julian Nagelsmann subsequently rewarded the teenager with his first Bundesliga appearances.
A clear pathway into Bayern’s first team nevertheless proved difficult to find. Vidovic spent the following seasons attempting to develop elsewhere. A loan to Vitesse Arnhem produced four goals in 25 Eredivisie appearances before a first spell with Dinamo Zagreb yielded nine goals and three assists across 40 competitive fixtures.
The Croatian youth international returned to Germany for the 2024/25 season, but another attempt to establish himself in the Bundesliga brought little playing time. A loan spell with Mainz produced only one appearance, while Vidovic later returned to Bayern and collected several brief first-team outings.
Bayern eventually sold him permanently to Dinamo for approximately €1.2m in the summer of 2025. That ultimately helped Vidović rebuild his momentum. Last season, the versatile attacker scored seven goals and registered five assists in 27 Croatian league appearances while also featuring seven times in the Europa League. He helped Dinamo secure domestic silverware before attracting Paderborn’s attention.
Paderborn back Gabriel Vidovic to strengthen attack
Paderborn sporting director Sebastian Lange emphasized both the player’s technical qualities and his experience despite his age.
“His sporting CV speaks for itself,” Lange said in the club statement. “He is flexible, technically excellent, and also has strengths in dribbling and finishing. In recent years, he has also gained experience at international level and will strengthen our attack.”
Vidovićcs flexibility should provide Paderborn with several options across the attacking line. The right-footed attacker is most comfortable operating from the left but can also work centrally and in other advanced roles.