Ivan Perià ¡ià(; born 2 February 1989) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Eredivisie club PSV and the Croatia national team. Usually deployed as a left winger, he has also featured as a left wing-back, right winger, and in the beginning of his career as an attacking midfielder or even second striker. Known for his ambipedality and versatility, he is widely considered one of the greatest Croatian players of all time, as well as one of the best players in his position, lauded by the likes of Luciano Spalletti, José Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Hansi Flick and other high profile managers.
A product of the Hajduk Split and Sochaux youth academies, Perià ¡iàmade a name for himself while playing for Club Brugge, where he was the Belgian Pro League top goalscorer and was named Belgian Footballer of the Year for 2011. This earned him a transfer to Borussia Dortmund, with whom he won the 2011âÂÂ12 Bundesliga, before signing with VfL Wolfsburg for â¬8 million in January 2013. He remained there for two and a half seasons, winning the 2015 DFB-Pokal final, before moving to Inter Milan for â¬16 million. In 2019, he joined Bayern Munich on loan, winning the treble. After returning to Inter Milan, he won the 2020âÂÂ21 Serie A, the 2021 Supercoppa Italiana and the 2021âÂÂ22 Coppa Italia.
Perià ¡iàmade his debut for the Croatia national team in 2011, and represented his nation at the UEFA European Championship in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024, as well as the FIFA World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022, reaching and scoring an equaliser in the final of the 2018 World Cup and winning a bronze medal at the 2022 World Cup. Instrumental to Croatia's second "golden generation", Perià ¡iàis the nation's player with most goal contributions at the major tournaments (18).
Perià ¡iàplayed in the youth ranks of the club he grew up supporting, Hajduk Split. He received interest from a number of clubs, including Anderlecht, PSV, Ajax, Hertha BSC and Hamburger SV. The only match he played for Hajduk was a friendly 3âÂÂ1 win over Smederevo in Murska Sobota on 16 July 2006. Returning from Murska Sobota to Split, Perià ¡iàreceived offers from Anderlecht and Sochaux. Hajduk offered Perià ¡iàa â¬100,000 contract, which was only â¬20,000 less than Hajduk's best player Niko KranjÃÂar's contract. However, the Perià ¡iàfamily opted for French club Sochaux, which paid â¬360,000 to sign him in the summer of 2006. Sochaux's coach Alain Perrin personally arrived to Split with a private jet to convince Perià ¡iàto sign, waiting two days for his signature. His physical and technical attributes led to comparisons to former Croatia international Aljoà ¡a Asanoviàby some journalists. He was a member of the Sochaux youth team, which won the Coupe Gambardella in 2007. During his time at Sochaux, he failed to make a first-team appearance, but did play for the B team. In January 2009, Perià ¡iàwas sent on loan to Belgian top flight club Roeselare for six months. At the end of the 2008âÂÂ09 season, there were reports Perià ¡iàsought to join Belgian side Anderlecht.
On 26 August 2009, Belgian club Club Brugge acquired Perià ¡iàfrom Sochaux for a â¬250,000 transfer fee and signed him to a three-year contract. Prior his move, Perià ¡iàwas linked with a move to German side Hertha BSC, having gone on trial.
In the opening match of the season, Perià ¡iàscored his first goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Genk, then scored his second in two consecutive games and provided assists in a 4âÂÂ1 win over Westerlo. Overall, Perià ¡iàscored 9 goals in 33 league appearances, also making eight appearances in Brugge's Europa League campaign, scoring four goals. At the end of the season, Perià ¡iàsigned a new three-year contract at Brugge, keeping him until 2015.
Belgian football critics predicted a bright future for Perià ¡iÃÂ. In the 2010âÂÂ11 season, he was the top scorer of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League after scoring 22 goals for Club Brugge, also being named Player of the Year in Belgium. During the season, Perià ¡iàscored four goals and provided an assist in a 5âÂÂ0 win against Charleroi on 29 December 2010.
On 23 May 2011, Perià ¡iàsigned a five-year contract to play for German side Borussia Dortmund after Dortmund paid an estimated â¬5 million transfer fee to Brugge. He made his debut for the club in their 3âÂÂ1 home victory over Hamburger SV on 5 August, substituting on for Chris Löwe in the 75th minute. During a Champions League match on 13 September 2011, he scored a late equaliser with a volley from 20 yards against Arsenal after entering as a substitute in the 69th minute. On 14 October, he scored the first goal in a 2âÂÂ0 win against Werder Bremen, a match in which he was later sent off for a second bookable offence. On 21 April 2012, he scored the important 1âÂÂ0 goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach and opened the door to the eighth national championship for Dortmund. The game ended 2âÂÂ0 (the second was scored by Shinji Kagawa).
Perià ¡iàbegan the 2012âÂÂ13 Bundesliga season scoring a brace in a 3âÂÂ2 loss against Hamburger SV on 22 September 2012. However, Perià ¡iàsoon found his first team opportunities limited, having played less in the first team and soon told Croatian channel Nova TV he had received no support from Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp and accused him of favouring other players. In response, Klopp criticised his actions as childish and Perià ¡iàfaced a fine due to his comment.
On 6 January 2013, it was reported Perià ¡iàtransferred for â¬8 million to VfL Wolfsburg. He scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in a friendly match against Standard Liège on 10 January. He made his competitive debut for Wolfsburg against VfB Stuttgart on 19 January 2013. In March, he suffered a left knee injury that sidelined him throughout March and April. He made his comeback in May in the match against Hamburger SV, coming on as a substitute and providing an assist. On 11 May 2013, he faced his former club Borussia Dortmund, scoring two goals.
On 3 August 2013, Perià ¡iàscored his first cup goal for Wolfsburg in their 3âÂÂ1 win against Karlsruher SC. On 26 October 2013, Perià ¡iàopened his goal scoring form in the 2013âÂÂ14 season in their 3âÂÂ0 win against Werder Bremen, also creating an assist on a goal. On matchday 30, he scored a brace in Wolfsburg's 4âÂÂ1 home win against 1. FC Nürnberg. Perià ¡iàfinished the season with ten league goals, second-best on the team behind fellow countryman Ivica OliÃÂ.
On 30 August 2015, Perià ¡iàsigned with Italian club Inter Milan on a five-year contract for a transfer fee of â¬16 million. He was presented on 10 September alongside Adem LjajiÃÂ, where he was assigned squad number 44, stating, "Inter were too big an opportunity to turn down."
Perià ¡iàmade his competitive debut for the club three days after signing, starting and playing 85 minutes in a 1âÂÂ0 win against cross-city rivals Milan in the Derby della Madonnina. He opened his scoring account on 4 October in his fifth league appearance in the 1âÂÂ1 away draw against Sampdoria, profiting from Mauro Icardi's assist, which was followed by another goal against Palermo two weeks later.
On 15 December, Perià ¡iàmade his Coppa Italia debut in the round of 16 match against Cagliari at home, appearing as a second-half substitute and scoring the team's third goal of the match in an eventual 3âÂÂ0 win. He began 2016 on 6 January in the match away against Empoli; his cross from close range was finished home by Icardi for the only goal of the match, which kept Inter top to the table. On 7 February, during the match against Hellas Verona, Perià ¡iàcame on as a 46th-minute substitute to change the fate of the match, providing an assist for Icardi and also scoring for himself to level the result 3âÂÂ3, rescuing a point for his side.
March was Perià ¡iÃÂ's best month in personal terms, scoring four goals and providing three assists. On 2 March, in the returning leg of Coppa Italia's semi-final against Juventus at San Siro, Perià ¡iàscored the team's second goal of the match to help Inter overturn the 3âÂÂ0 defeat and equal the aggregate 3âÂÂ3, which led the match into the penalty shoot-outs. However, Inter lost 5âÂÂ3 and were eliminated from the competition. Perià ¡iàscored Inter's last goal of 2015âÂÂ16 season in a 2âÂÂ1 home win against Empoli on the final matchday.
Perià ¡iàfinished his first season with Inter Milan by playing 37 matches, including 34 in league, scoring nine goals, seven of them in league, and Inter Milan finished fourth in Serie A, returning in European competitions after a one-year absence and was eliminated in the semi-final in the Coppa Italia. He was also Inter Milan's top assist provider with six assists.
Perià ¡iàopened his second Inter season by playing in the last 30 minutes of the first matchday as fell away at Chievo. He then scored his first goal of the new season in the Derby d'Italia against Juventus at home, entering in the 69th minute and heading home an Mauro Icardi cross nine minutes later to give Inter second win of the season, also the first in league against Juventus since November 2012.
Perià ¡iàplayed his first European match for Inter Milan on 29 September in team's second 2016âÂÂ17 UEFA Europa League group stage match against Sparta Prague, appearing in the last 27 minutes of a 3âÂÂ1 away defeat. On 20 November, in the Derby against rivals Milan, he first provided the Antonio Candreva's long-range strike before scoring himself a last minute equaliser, as Inter took one point in the last moments.
On 8 January 2017, Inter Milan's first match of the calendar year, Perià ¡iàprovided a Man of the Match performance by scoring both goals in a 2âÂÂ1 away win at Udinese; it was his first Inter brace which took his tally up to six goals. This was followed by another splendid individual performance against Chievo six days later as he scored his team's second goal after an individual effort in an eventual 3âÂÂ1 win.
On 5 February, in the matchday 23 against Juventus at Juventus Stadium, Perià ¡iàreceived his first-ever career red card as Inter Milan were defeated 1âÂÂ0. He was subsequently banned for two matches by Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for aggressive confrontation of the referee. After Inter Milan appealed the suspension, it was reduced to one match. He returned from suspension on 19 February in the 1âÂÂ0 win at Bologna, and scored his second brace on 5 March in a 5âÂÂ1 thrashing of Cagliari at Stadio Sant'Elia.
On 22 April, Perià ¡iàreached double-figures for the first time with Inter Milan after scoring in a 5âÂÂ4 away defeat against Fiorentina. On the final matchday, he provided a stunning individual performance by providing two assists after individual efforts, also scoring his 11th goal of the season as Inter thrashed Udinese 5âÂÂ2 at home end the season on a high. Perià ¡iàfinished his second Inter season by making 42 appearances in all competitions, including 36 in league, which 31 were as starter, as Inter finished the Serie A in seventh position, once again failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. He scored 11 goals, his highest tally since 2010âÂÂ11 season with Club Brugge; and also provided ten assists, including eight in Serie A, breaking his last season's record.
Perià ¡iàstarted his third Inter season on a high, first scoring and assisting in the opening day of 2017âÂÂ18 Serie A against Fiorentina, then providing two assists in the away match at Roma as Inter won 3âÂÂ1, Inter Milan's first league win at the Stadio Olimpico in nine years.
On 8 September, Perià ¡iàsigned a new contract extension with Inter Milan, keeping him at the San Siro until June 2022. Upon signing, Perià ¡iàsaid, "It's a special day, it's certainly emotional and I'm happy after the stress of this summer. Now, we can look forward and I'm only thinking about Inter. After signing, the pitch is the only thing left for me to think about."
His second goal of the season, a late screamer outside the zone against newly promoted SPAL two days later, was his 20th career Serie A goal. Perià ¡iàscored his first Serie A hat-trick on 3 December in the 5âÂÂ0 home win over Chievo. His 100th appearance in all competitions for Inter occurred later on 30 December in the goalless draw versus Lazio on matchday 19.
Perià ¡iàplayed his first Champions League game for Inter on 18 September 2018, in a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
In January 2019, English club Arsenal attempted to sign Perià ¡iÃÂ. He agreed to a deal with the club; however, Inter Milan blocked the deal. Teammate Mauro Icardi's agent Wanda Nara spoke out about Perià ¡iÃÂ's reasons for the departure, speculating that they might be of personal nature. Nara's comments resulted in a fallout between the players, resulting in Icardi being stripped of captaincy and dropped from the team ahead of a Europa League away fixture against Rapid Wien.
Perià ¡iàfeatured in 34 matches in Serie A, only behind Samir Handanoviàand Matteo Politano, scoring 8 goals; hence being the second top scorer for Inter after Icardi. Following the appointment of Antonio Conte, Perià ¡iàstruggled to fit into the new manager's system during pre-season.
On 13 August 2019, Perià ¡iàjoined German club Bayern Munich on a season-long loan. Bayern had the option of signing Perià ¡iàon a permanent deal in the summer of 2020. On 31 August he scored his first goal for Bayern and provided an assist in a 6âÂÂ1 victory over Mainz. On 4 February 2020, during training ahead of a DFB-Pokal match against 1899 Hoffenheim, Perià ¡iàsuffered a right ankle fracture following a tackle from teammate ÃÂlvaro Odriozola. He underwent a surgery the same day. He came back to the team on 17 May, coming on for Serge Gnabry in 85th minute of the game against Union Berlin, the club's first game after the league suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 10 June, he scored the opening goal in a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal semi-final. On 4 July, he provided Robert Lewandowski with an assist in the DFB-Pokal final as Bayern defeated Bayer Leverkusen 4âÂÂ2 and secured the domestic double. On 8 August, he scored in a Champions League round of 16 second leg, as Bayern defeated Chelsea 4âÂÂ1 (7âÂÂ1 on aggregate). Six days later, he scored in a quarter-final 8âÂÂ2 win over Barcelona at Estádio da Luz. On 23 August, he became the eleventh Croatian to win the Champions League in history, as Bayern defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1âÂÂ0 in the final.
On 9 September, Bayern announced they had opted not to sign Perià ¡iàon permanent deal, after failing to negotiate a deal with Inter and he returned to his parent club.
On 31 October 2020, Perià ¡iàscored his first goal of the season for Inter Milan in a 2âÂÂ2 home draw against Parma. On 3 November, he scored his first Champions League goal for Inter Milan in a 2âÂÂ3 defeat against Real Madrid. During the spring part of the season, Perià ¡iàwas praised by Conte for successfully adapting to his system, moving from the position of a winger to that of a wing-back.
On 2 May 2021, four matchdays before the end of the season, Sassuolo drew 1âÂÂ1 with Atalanta at home, meaning that Inter mathematically secured the Serie A title. It was Inter's first league title since 2009âÂÂ10 season, ending Juventus' nine-season-long league-winning streak. The title was also Perià ¡iÃÂ's first trophy with the Nerrazzuri.
On 24 November 2021, Perià ¡iàwas praised for his performance in the 2âÂÂ0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, as he assisted Edin Dà ¾eko's second goal, although his goal and Lautaro MartÃÂnez's goal that he also assisted were ruled out. The victory qualified Inter Milan for the Round of 16 for the first time since the 2011âÂÂ12 season.
On 11 May 2022, in the Coppa Italia final against Juventus, Perià ¡iàbroke the deadlock in the first half of extra time by scoring a brace and bringing the score from 2âÂÂ2 to the eventual 4âÂÂ2.
On 31 May 2022, Tottenham Hotspur signed Perià ¡iàon a free transfer, reuniting him with former manager Conte. He became the fifth Croatian in history to sign with the club. He played his first minutes for the club in a 2âÂÂ1 friendly victory over Rangers on 23 July. Perià ¡iàmade his Premier League debut on 6 August 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute for Ryan Sessegnon in a 4âÂÂ1 home victory over Southampton.
On 20 September 2023, the club confirmed that Perià ¡iàhad sustained a complex anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee in non-contact training and that he would undergo surgery.
On 19 January 2024, Perià ¡iàreturned to his hometown club Hajduk Split. Initially, he joined the club on loan until the end of the season, with Hajduk later announcing it had reached an agreement with the player to remain at the club for another season, following the expiration of his contract with Tottenham Hotspur. On 30 August 2024, Perià ¡iàand Hajduk terminated the contract by mutual consent. An attempt was made for a transfer to one of the clubs in Serie A, but was not successfully completed before transfer deadline.
On 18 September 2024, Dutch club PSV signed Perià ¡iàon a free transfer in a one-year deal. On 2 November 2024, Perià ¡iàscored his first goal for PSV in a 3âÂÂ2 defeat against Ajax. He scored his first UEFA Champions League goal for PSV on 11 February 2025 in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat to Juventus. On the return leg, he scored again in a 3âÂÂ1 victory, making him the oldest ever player to score in consecutive Champions League knockout stage matches.
Perià ¡iàhas appeared internationally for the Croatia national under-17, under-19 and under-21 teams. He participated in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification for Croatia, where he scored two goals.
On 26 March 2011, at age 22, Perià ¡iàmade his debut for the senior national team against Georgia. He was a member of Croatia's squad for UEFA Euro 2012, starting in the team's opening two matches against the Republic of Ireland and Italy, and appearing as a substitute in the team's final match, a 1âÂÂ0 loss to Spain.
During the 2014 World Cup qualification, Perià ¡iàappeared in 12 matches for Croatia and scored his first international goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Belgium. On 14 May, Perià ¡iàwas named in Croatia's 30-man preliminary squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 31 May, he scored a brace in a 2âÂÂ1 win against Mali in a World Cup warm-up match in Osijek. Perià ¡iàwas confirmed as a member of Croatia's final 23-man World Cup squad on 2 June. Perià ¡iàwas in Croatia's starting team for the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, a controversial 3âÂÂ1 defeat to tournament hosts Brazil at the Arena Corinthians, São Paulo. In the following match, he scored Croatia's second goal as they defeated Cameroon 4âÂÂ0. On 23 June, he scored a consolation goal in the team's final group match, 3âÂÂ1 defeat to Mexico which eliminated them from the tournament. Despite Croatia's early elimination, Perià ¡iàwas ranked as the second-best performing player of the group stage by FIFA.
Perià ¡iàwas Croatia's top goalscorer in Euro 2016 qualifying, scoring six goals in nine matches as Croatia qualified in second place in Group H. In Croatia's second Euro 2016 group match, Perià ¡iàscored the opening goal of a 2âÂÂ2 draw with the Czech Republic. Five days later, he scored the winning goal against Spain, which secured qualification to the knockout stage as group winners for Croatia. The tournament however ended in disappointment as they were subsequently knocked out in the round of 16 to eventual winners Portugal.
Perià ¡iàappeared regularly in Croatia's successful 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, as they finished runner-up in Group I which sent them to second round. The team played Greece, winning the first leg 4âÂÂ1, with Perià ¡iàscoring the third goal in 33rd minute. Croatia booked their spot to the World Cup final stages in Russia on 12 November by playing a goalless draw in the returning leg. In May 2018, Perià ¡iàwas named in Croatia's final squad for the 2018 World Cup. In the third group stage match, Perià ¡iàscored in the last minute of the regular time in the 2âÂÂ1 win over Iceland as Croatia topped Group D on full points. During Croatia's semi-final match against England on 11 July, Perià ¡iàscored Croatia's equaliser in the second half of regulation time, and later also set-up Mario Mandà ¾ukiÃÂ's match-winning goal in the second half of extra-time to give Croatia a 2âÂÂ1 victory, sending the team to the World Cup final for the first time in their history. He was named Man of the Match. In the final against France on 15 July, he scored Croatia's temporary equaliser in the first half, although the match eventually ended in a 4âÂÂ2 defeat to France. Perià ¡iàcovered the most ground of any player in the tournament, running a total of 72.5 kilometres.
During Euro 2020 qualifying, Perià ¡iàscored three timesâÂÂagainst Wales at home and Slovakia home and awayâÂÂas Croatia topped Group E. On 19 November 2019, he captained the national team for the first time ever in a friendly 2âÂÂ1 victory over Georgia, scoring the winning goal. On 8 September 2020, he captained Croatia once again in a 4âÂÂ2 Nations League defeat to France at Stade de France.
On 1 June 2021, Perià ¡iàmade this 100th appearance for the national team in a friendly 1âÂÂ1 draw with Armenia in which he scored Croatia's goal. He was selected in Croatia's final squad for UEFA Euro 2020, where he was the team's most efficient performer, scoring twice (in the 1âÂÂ1 draw with the Czech Republic and the 3âÂÂ1 victory over Scotland) and assisting once (in the latter match). However, on 27 June, he tested positive for COVID-19 which ruled him out of the squad for the knockout phase.
On 9 November 2022, Perià ¡iàwas selected in Croatia's final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. At the tournament, he assisted three timesâÂÂtwice in the 4âÂÂ1 group stage victory over Canada and once in the 2âÂÂ1 third place play-off victory over MoroccoâÂÂand scored once, the equalizer in the 1âÂÂ1 round of 16 draw with Japan. That way, he extended his record of the Croatia player with the most goal contributions at major tournaments (18), as well as surpassed Davor à  uker as the Croatia player with the most goals scored at major tournaments (10).
Perià ¡iàtook part at the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour for the PoreàMajor tournament, a professional competition, partnering Nikà ¡a Dellorco. The pair lost their first match against ÃÂlvaro Morais Filho and Saymon Barbosa.
Born in Split, Perià ¡iàgrew up in the town of Omià ¡, where his parents are from. As a child, he worked on his father's poultry farm.
Perià ¡iàmarried Josipa in 2012, having first met her while they were in high school. The pair have two children: a son, Leonardo, born on 9 October 2012; and a daughter, Manuela, born on 28 July 2014.
Borussia Dortmund
VfL Wolfsburg
Bayern Munich
Inter Milan
PSV Eindhoven
Croatia
Individual
Orders