{{Short description|Croatian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Stipe Perica | image = | fullname = Stipe Perica<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Watford |publisher=English Football League |page=73 |access-date=27 September 2020}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|7|7|df=y}} | birth_place = Zadar, Croatia | height = 1.93 m | position = Striker | currentclub = Neftchi Fergana | clubnumber = 18 | youthyears1 = 2005–2012 | youthclubs1 = Zadar | years1 = 2012–2013 | clubs1 = Zadar | caps1 = 20 | goals1 = 8 | years2 = 2013–2016 | clubs2 = Chelsea | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2013–2015 | clubs3 = → NAC (loan) | caps3 = 35 | goals3 = 9 | years4 = 2015–2016 | clubs4 = → Udinese (loan) | caps4 = 20 | goals4 = 3 | years5 = 2016–2020 | clubs5 = Udinese | caps5 = 49 | goals5 = 7 | years6 = 2018 | clubs6 = → Frosinone (loan) | caps6 = 7 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2019 | clubs7 = → Kasımpaşa (loan) | caps7 = 12 | goals7 = 2 | years8 = 2019–2020 | clubs8 = → Mouscron (loan) | caps8 = 15 | goals8 = 7 | years9 = 2020–2021 | clubs9 = Watford | caps9 = 16 | goals9 = 1 | years10 = 2021–2022 | clubs10 = Maccabi Tel Aviv | caps10 = 35 | goals10 = 17 | years11 = 2022–2024 | clubs11 = Standard Liège | caps11 = 29 | goals11 = 4 | years12 = 2024–2025 | clubs12 = Rijeka | caps12 = 6 | goals12 = 0 | years13 = 2025–2026 | clubs13 = Dinamo București | caps13 = 32 | goals13 = 8 | years14 = 2026– | clubs14 = Neftchi Fergana | caps14 = 4 | goals14 = 4 | nationalyears1 = 2013 | nationalteam1 = Croatia U19 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2013 | nationalteam2 = Croatia U20 | nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | nationalyears3 = 2013–2016 | nationalteam3 = Croatia U21 | nationalcaps3 = 12 | nationalgoals3 = 8 | pcupdate = 20 March 2026 | ntupdate = }}
'''Stipe Perica''' ({{IPA|hr|stǐːpe pêritsa}};<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=d1tgXxc%3D|title=Stjȅpān|quote=Stípe|website=Hrvatski jezični portal|access-date=19 March 2018|language=sh}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=eV5lXBM%3D&keyword=Pustinjak|title=Pètar|quote=Pȅrica|website=Hrvatski jezični portal|access-date=19 March 2018|language=sh}}</ref> born 7 July 1995) is a Croatian footballer who plays as a striker for Uzbekistan Super League club Neftchi Fergana.
==Club career== ===Early career=== Perica started his playing career in his home-country of Croatia with Zadar in 2012. He made his debut for the first team during the month of September 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/on-loan-players/stipe-perica.html |title=Stipe Perica Chelsea Profile |publisher=Chelsea Official Site}}</ref> In his first season, he scored 8 goals in 20 league matches, and 10 goals in all competitions.
===Chelsea=== On 1 August 2013, Perica signed for Chelsea with a transfer fee of €2.5m.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stipe Perica signs|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3335552|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140122052342/http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3335552|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2014|publisher=Chelsea F.C|date=1 August 2013}}</ref> After his arrival at Chelsea, the club loaned Perica out to Dutch club NAC Breda.<ref>{{cite news|title=NAC zonder Chelsea-huurling Perica naar Kuip|url=http://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieuws/241068/nac-zonder-chelsea-huurling-perica-naar-kuip/|access-date=20 December 2015|work=FC Update|date=23 August 2013|language=nl}}</ref>
====Loan to NAC Breda==== On his NAC Breda debut he scored his first goal in a 1–5 victory away to Roda JC, having come on as a substitute.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/09/15/netherlands/eredivisie/roda-jc/nac-bv/1478378/|title=Roda JC vs. NAC Breda 1 - 5|publisher=Soccerway AU|date=15 September 2013}}</ref> A few weeks later he scored the winning goal for 2–1 against Heracles Almelo in his fourth appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nos.nl/video/559189-perica-ben-gelukkig-bij-nac.html |title=Perica: ben gelukkig bij NAC |language=nl |publisher=NOS |date=5 October 2013 |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> On 16 February 2014, he was sent-off just 4 minutes after being substituted on in the match against Feyenoord.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/02/16/netherlands/eredivisie/nac-bv/feyenoord-rotterdam-nv/1478544/|title=NAC Breda v.s. Feyeboord 1 - 1|publisher=Soccerway AU|date=16 February 2014}}</ref>
In August 2014, his loan deal was extended for the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/9432970/eredivisie-nac-breda-boss-nebojsa-gudelj-pleased-with-stipe-perica-loan-deal |title=NAC Breda boss Nebojsa Gudelj pleased with Stipe Perica loan deal |publisher=Sky Sports |date=21 August 2014 |access-date=21 August 2014}}</ref> However, after the sacking of Breda's manager Nebojša Gudelj, his role was reduced to a bit-part player and he requested a move in search for more game time. On 22 January 2015, his loan with NAC Breda ended and Chelsea loaned him out to Udinese until June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hns-cff.hr/en/news/8495/stipe-perica-on-loan-at-udinese/|title=Stipe Perica on loan at Udinese|publisher=hns-cff.hr|access-date=22 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/perica-op-weg-naar-italie-na-afscheid-van-nac-breda.htm|title=Perica op weg naar Italië na afscheid van NAC Breda|language=nl|publisher=Voetbal International|access-date=22 January 2015}}</ref>
===Udinese=== On 8 February 2015 against Napoli, Perica made his debut for Udinese, coming off the bench in the 78th minute for Bruno Fernandes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/02/08/italy/serie-a/ssc-napoli/udinese-calcio/1836537/|title=Napoli vs. Udinese|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=8 February 2015}}</ref> On 4 April 2015, Perica made his first start for Udinese in a match against Genoa that ended in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/04/04/italy/serie-a/genoa-cfc/udinese-calcio/1836677/|title=Genoa vs. Udinese|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=4 April 2015}}</ref> On 17 May, Perica scored the opener (his first for Udinese) against A.S. Roma, the match ended in a 1–2 loss for Udinese.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32773162|title=Roma remain in control of the race for Italy's second automatic Champions League place after fighting back to beat Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico.|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 May 2015}}</ref>
On 3 June 2015, Udinese extended Perica's loan deal for one and a half years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/02/salah-completed-fiorentina-loan.html |title=Stipe Perica will play the next 18 months on loan in Italy at Udinese. |access-date=3 June 2015 |publisher=Chelsea FC}}</ref> On 20 December 2015, Perica scored his first goal of the 2015–16 Serie A campaign in a 1–0 away victory over Torino, therefore scoring the winning goal in the 41st minute.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Torino vs. Udinese - 20 December 2015 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/12/20/italy/serie-a/torino-fc/udinese-calcio/2120545/ |publisher=Soccerway |date=20 December 2015}}</ref>
On 15 June 2016, Udinese activated a clause in Perica's contract, in which he would join the Italian side on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Perica redeemed by Chelsea FC |url=http://www.udinese.it/portal/IT/handle/?hil&page=redazione_approfondimenti&vid=5661 |publisher=Udinese Calcio |date=15 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619052753/http://www.udinese.it/portal/IT/handle/?hil&page=redazione_approfondimenti&vid=5661 |archive-date=19 June 2016 }}</ref>
====Loans to Frosinone, Kasımpaşa and Mouscron==== On 18 July 2018, Perica was loaned to newly promoted Serie A club Frosinone for a season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ufficiale-frosinone-rinforzo-in-attacco-arriva-perica-in-prestito-1136040|access-date=18 July 2018|title=Perica on loan to Frosinone}}</ref> In January, he was recalled from Udinese to join Kasımpaşa after falling down the pecking order.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kasimpasaspor.org.tr/tr/haberler/kulupten-haberler/stipe-perica-kasimpasamizda_4376.html|access-date=27 January 2019|title=Stipe Perica Kasımpaşamızda|language=tr}}</ref>
On 23 August 2019, Perica joined Belgian First Division A club Mouscron on loan until 30 June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ufficiale-udinese-perica-in-prestito-al-mouscron-1283264|title=UFFICIALE: Udinese, Perica in prestito al Mouscron - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com|website=www.tuttomercatoweb.com|access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref>
===Watford=== On 7 September 2020, Perica joined EFL Championship club Watford from Udinese on a 2-year deal for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2020 |title=Stipe Perica: Watford sign Croatian striker from Udinese |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54064064 |access-date=6 February 2021 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
He made his Watford debut in an EFL Cup tie against Oxford United on 15 September 2020. The game went to a penalty shootout and Perica converted his effort as Watford won.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/18723292.watford-beat-oxford-united-penalties-carabao-cup/ |title=Watford beat Oxford United on penalties in Carabao Cup |date=15 September 2020 |publisher=watfordobserver.co.uk|access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> In the following round against Newport County, Perica was sent off for violent conduct as Watford lost 3–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54190610 |title=Newport 3-1 Watford |date=22 September 2020 |publisher=BBC|access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Watford in a 1–1 draw with Bournemouth on 24 October 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54580023 |title=Watford 1-1 Bournemouth |date=24 October 2020 |publisher=BBC|access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref>
===Maccabi Tel Aviv=== On 14 August 2021, Perica signed for Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19514301.watford-striker-stipe-perica-joins-maccabi-tel-aviv/|title=Watford striker Stipe Perica joins Maccabi Tel Aviv|website=watfordobserver.co.uk|first=Ryan|last=Gray|date=14 August 2021|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> On 14 September 2021, Perica scored the first goal of the new UEFA Europa Conference League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/0253-0d8226f62167-bb95306965de-1000--perica-scores-historic-first/|title=Who scored the first goals in UEFA's competitions? |website=UEFA|date=14 September 2021|access-date=16 September 2021}}</ref>
===Standard Liège=== Perica was acquired by Belgian First Division A club Standard Liège on 2 September 2022, for 900k euros, a few days after he fled Israel in flight without the club's permission.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/2022/09/maccabi-agree-perica-sale/ | title=Maccabi agree Perica sale | date=2 September 2022 }}</ref> He made his club doubt in a 2-0 home win against K.V. Kortrijk, when he entered the game as a substitute in the 80th minute.
===Rijeka=== Perica signed for Rijeka as a free agent on 4 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nk-rijeka.hr/stipe-perica-novi-igrac-hnk-rijeka/ | title=Stipe Perica novi igrač HNK Rijeka | date=4 September 2024|work=HNK Rijeka}}</ref>
==International career== Perica represented Croatia at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2013. He was Croatia's youngest player, aged 17, and scored in a 2–1 win over New Zealand on 29 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=259235/match=300232812/summary.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702182420/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=259235/match=300232812/summary.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2013 |title=Croatia finish top, Kiwis exit |date=29 June 2013 |publisher=FIFA }}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 23 January 2026}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Stipe Perica|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=72501|work=Soccerbase|access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stipe Perica|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/stipe-perica/270151/|work=Soccerway|access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Croatian Cup, KNVB Cup, Coppa Italia, Turkish Cup, Belgian Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Zadar |2012–13 |Prva HNL |20||8||4||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||10 |- |rowspan="3"|NAC Breda (loan) |2013–14 |Eredivisie |25||6||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||6 |- |2014–15 |Eredivisie |10||3||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||11||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !35!!9!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—!!37!!9 |- |rowspan=2|Udinese (loan) |2014–15 |Serie A |9||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||1 |- |2015–16 |Serie A |11||2||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||3 |- |rowspan=3|Udinese |2016–17 |Serie A |27||6||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||6 |- |2017–18 |Serie A |22||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||22||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !69!!10!!2!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!71!!11 |- |Frosinone (loan) |2018–19 |Serie A |7||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- |Kasımpaşa (loan) |2018–19 |Süper Lig |12||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||2 |- |Mouscron (loan) |2019–20 |Belgian First Division A |15||7||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||8 |- |Watford |2020–21 |Championship |16||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=EFL|Appearances in EFL Cup}}||0||18||1 |- | rowspan="3" |Maccabi Tel Aviv |2021–22 |Israeli Premier League |34||15||4||0||8{{efn|name=UEC|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}}||2|||0||0||46||17 |- |2022–23 |Israeli Premier League |1||2||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=UEC}}||1|||1{{efn|name=TOT|Appearances in Toto Cup}}||0||6||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !35!!17!!4!!0!!12!!3!!1!!0!!52!!20 |- | rowspan="3" |Standard Liège |2022–23 |Belgian Pro League |23||4||2||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=EPO|Appearances in Belgian Pro League European play-offs}}||0||29||4 |- |2023–24 |Belgian Pro League |6||0||1||2||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=EPO}}||0||9||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !29!!4!!3!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!6!!0!!38!!6 |- | rowspan="1" |Rijeka |2024–25 |HNL |6||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- | rowspan="3" |Dinamo București |2024–25 |Liga I |16||6||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||6 |- |2025–26 |Liga I |16||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !32!!8!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!34!!8 |- |Neftchi Fergana |2026 |Uzbekistan Super League |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !276!!66!!23!!6!!12!!3!!9!!0!!320!!75 |} {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://hns.team/en/players/109032/stipe-perica/ Stipe Perica] at the Croatian Football Federation * {{hrnogomet|2805}} * [http://www.vi.nl/spelers/carriere/stipe-perica.htm Stipe Perica at ''Voetbal International''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204014110/http://www.vi.nl/spelers/carriere/stipe-perica.htm |date=4 February 2015 }} {{in lang|nl}}
{{FC Neftchi Fergana squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perica, Stipe}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Zadar Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Croatian men's footballers Category:Croatia men's youth international footballers Category:Croatia men's under-21 international footballers Category:NK Zadar players Category:Chelsea F.C. players Category:NAC Breda players Category:Udinese Calcio players Category:Frosinone Calcio players Category:Kasımpaşa S.K. footballers Category:Royal Excel Mouscron players Category:Watford F.C. players Category:Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. players Category:Standard Liège players Category:HNK Rijeka players Category:FC Dinamo București players Category:FC Neftchi Fergana players Category:Croatian Football League players Category:Eredivisie players Category:Serie A players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Belgian Pro League players Category:English Football League players Category:Israeli Premier League players Category:Liga I players Category:Uzbekistan Super League players Category:Croatian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Israel Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Uzbekistan Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Israel Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Uzbekistan Category:21st-century Croatian sportsmen