An in-depth look at the career of Huddersfield Town’s latest signing
- Radinio Balker signs for Huddersfield Town
- Defender joins from Dutch side FC Groningen
- Learn more about Radinio and his career
Having played over 100 senior games in his native Netherlands, Radinio Balker will now challenge himself in the new climate of the Sky Bet Championship as a Huddersfield Town player.
An imposing, athletic centre back at 6’ 3” tall, the 25-year-old was not short of suitors from across mainland Europe having impressed over the last two seasons at FC Groningen.
Born in Amsterdam on 3 September 1998, Radinio – who has Surinamese heritage – started his professional football career just across the IJ waterfront at Almere City FC.
He quickly progressed through their youth teams to play regularly for the club’s Under-21 side in the Dutch Fourth Division in the 2017/18 season whilst still a teenager. That season was a successful one for Radinio and the side, as they gained promotion via the end-of-season Play-Offs, when he played the full 180 minutes across both games of a 6-2 aggregate victory.
After 11 starts for the Under-21s in the Third Division at the start of 2018/19, Radinio was promoted to Almere’s senior side and made his second tier debut for them against Jong Ajax that December. He didn’t look back, playing 21 games that season as Almere reached the Play-Offs, only to fall to SC Cambuur over two legs.
Balker clocked up over 50 appearances for Almere City over the next two seasons and his form alerted Eredivisie side FC Groningen. Although Almere wanted to keep him, he signalled his intention to leave at the end of his contract in the summer of 2021 and soon signed a pre-contract agreement with the top flight side.
Sadly he missed what should have been his debut season with Groningen through injury, but he returned strongly to make 31 starts in the top division of the Netherlands in 2022/23. Although it was a tough season for the team – one that ended in relegation – Radinio emerged with credit from the pundits for his individual displays against some elite-level strikers.
He had been a virtual ever-present for Groningen as they try to mount a promotion charge this season, scoring three goals in 19 starts.
CLICK HERE to find out more about the deal that brought Radinio to the Terriers!
