Gjoko ZAJKOV

As part of the biggest area of reconstruction during the close season in 2014, Stade Rennais signed a first defensive reinforcement in the form of Gjoko Zajkov. Aged just 19, this tall defender had reached the end of his contract with Rabotnicki Skopje in Macedonia, where he had represented his country in all youth team age groups Zajkov signed a 3-year contract with Rennes just a few days after being selected for his country’s full international team. After just one start against Créteil in the League Cup, Zajkov was asked to find a new club in July 2015. After a positive trial at Hamilton Academicals in Scotland, he was thwarted by a problem in obtaining a work permit. The Macedonian defender was finally loaned to Sporting Charleroi in Belgium with a buyout clause in August 2015. After a season which started badly, but ended well, his move to Belgium was made permanent on 1st July 2016.