Jan-Carlo Simic matured into a professional player in Germany, but never played in the Bundesliga. He also failed to make the big breakthrough in Serie A. However, things are looking very different now at RSC Anderlecht in Belgium.
Jan-Carlo Simic has yet to enjoy a major career, but the 20-year-old defender, who was born in Nürtingen, is working on it. Simic was once one of VfB Stuttgart’s most promising talents, and narrowly missed out on the German championship with the U17s in 2021/22. The tall, two-footed defender nevertheless attracted the interest of AC Milan and left Stuttgart in the summer of 2022 for a reported transfer fee of just under one million euros to move to Lombardy.
He initially earned his spurs with the Rossoneri in the U19 team before making his professional debut in December 2023 – and what a debut it was. He scored his first goal for Milan in his very first game. However, his meteoric rise did not continue, and he only made three further appearances as a substitute before leaving Serie A in the summer.
Simic: “I was definitely good enough for Milan”
“I was definitely good enough to play for Milan,” Simic said in an interview with gianlucadimarzio.com, regretting that he hadn’t been given more chances. “But I don’t decide whether I play or not, nor do I decide whether I stay at the club. The club makes those decisions, I can only give my best. Of course I wanted to play more, but the decision is up to the coach – and maybe I was too young and inexperienced for the starting line-up.”
However, he said that making his professional debut for Milan made him very “proud, because Milan is a world-class club. I am grateful for the games I was able to play and my self-esteem has grown significantly thanks to Milan – that has helped me.” Nevertheless, he did not stay in the fashion city. “I had to make a career decision because I wanted to develop further – and that’s only possible through playing experience,” said the Serbian international (four caps) explaining his move to the Belgian Jupiler Pro League last summer.
See and play in Brussels
In retrospect, this decision proved to be absolutely right, as Simic matured into a regular player in Brussels. Thirty-one league games and ten appearances in the Europa League speak for themselves. “I think the move to Anderlecht was the best decision for my career. Here, I really get playing time, which is important for my development,” said the 20-year-old.
Even though Simic is happy in Belgium, it seems unlikely that he will spend his entire career at RSC—the lure of the top five leagues is too tempting. “My dream is to return to one of the strongest leagues,” the 20-year-old admits, but emphasizes that “nobody knows what the future holds. I will continue to work hard and give my best every day.” His contract with Anderlecht runs until June 2029.