Ninth Leeds United call-up as Jaka Bijol summoned by Slovenia for June friendlies | OneFootball

Leeds United centre-back Jaka Bijol has been named in Slovenia’s squad for two friendlies, taking the club’s senior international contingent to nine. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, it is the ninth call-up across Daniel Farke’s first-team group.

Slovenia missed out on the 2026 World Cup in November after a 2-0 defeat to Kosovo and a 1-1 draw with Gabriel Gudmundsson’s Sweden. They will instead host Cyprus in Ljubljana on four June, then visit Croatia on seven June.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a fine first campaign at Elland Road after a £15 million switch from Udinese last summer. He waited until late October for a Premier League debut, then became a fixture, missing only five top-flight matches thereafter.

His 25 league appearances delivered one goal, a bullet header against Chelsea in November, and two assists. He has thrived at the heart of Farke’s back three between Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk.

Bijol recently called it an amazing season and said he relished every moment. He added that team-mates kept spirits high when he was not playing and he was glad to contribute as they impressed throughout.

Four Leeds players will head across the Atlantic for the World Cup, with Brenden Aaronson called by USA, Gabriel Gudmundsson by Sweden, Ao Tanaka by Japan and Noah Okafor in Switzerland’s squad.

Bijol is among five Whites involved only in friendlies, while Karl Darlow, Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James and Rodon have been selected by Wales to face Ghana and Romania.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk