| Luka Krajnc | |
| Birth Date: | 19 September 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Ptuj, Slovenia |
| Height: | 1.88 m |
| Position: | Defender |
| Currentclub: | Catanzaro |
| Clubnumber: | 32 |
| Youthyears1: | 2003–2011 |
| Youthclubs1: | Maribor |
| Youthyears2: | 2011–2013 |
| Years1: | 2010–2011 |
| Clubs1: | Maribor |
| Caps1: | 1 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2011–2015 |
| Clubs2: | Genoa |
| Caps2: | 3 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2013–2015 |
| Clubs3: | → Cesena (loan) |
| Caps3: | 44 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2015–2018 |
| Clubs4: | Cagliari |
| Caps4: | 21 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs5: | → Sampdoria (loan) |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs6: | → Frosinone (loan) |
| Caps6: | 46 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2018–2021 |
| Caps7: | 24 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs8: | → Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) |
| Caps8: | 24 |
| Goals8: | 2 |
| Years9: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs9: | Hannover 96 |
| Caps9: | 40 |
| Goals9: | 1 |
| Years10: | 2023– |
| Caps10: | 15 |
| Goals10: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2010 |
| Nationalteam1: | Slovenia U16 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2010 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2011 |
| Nationalteam3: | Slovenia U18 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2011–2012 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 16 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 1 |
| Nationalyears5: | 2011–2012 |
| Nationalteam5: | Slovenia U20 |
| Nationalcaps5: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals5: | 0 |
| Nationalyears6: | 2012–2016 |
| Nationalcaps6: | 19 |
| Nationalgoals6: | 2 |
| Nationalyears7: | 2015–2018 |
| Nationalcaps7: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals7: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 9 June 2024 |
Luka Krajnc (born 19 September 1994) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Italian club Catanzaro.
Krajnc began his football career at the age of eight when his father took him on a trial with the Slovenian football club Maribor.[1] He signed his first professional contract with Maribor at the age of 16 and played for the main squad in a couple of friendly matches. On 29 May 2011, he played his first and only 1. SNL match for Maribor in the last round of the 2010–11 season,[2] with Maribor already crowned champions. At the time of his debut he was the youngest player ever with an appearance for Maribor in a 1. SNL match, a record which lasted until 25 March 2012.[3]
On 3 April 2011, Krajnc signed a pre-contract with Italian Serie A club Genoa.[4] The transfer fee paid by Genoa was undisclosed, but was reported to be close to €1 million. He joined his new club on 1 July 2011.[5] [6] He began his career at Genoa with their Primavera side which he also captained, before making a debut for the main squad on 27 October 2012 at San Siro in a league match against AC Milan.[7] With 18 years, one month and 14 days he became the youngest Slovenian player ever with an appearances in the Italian top division, Serie A.[6]
On 3 July 2013 he moved to Cesena in temporary co-ownership deal.[8] In June 2015 Genoa acquired Cesena's share and became the sole owner of the player's rights.[9]
On 31 August 2016, Krajnc joined Sampdoria on a season-long loan.[10] In the second part of the 2016–17 season, he was loaned to Frosinone.[11]
On 20 June 2018, Frosinone turned Krajnc's loan into a permanent deal for undisclosed fee.[12]
In September 2020, he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf on a season-long loan.[13]
On 24 August 2021, Krajnc joined Hannover 96 on a three-year contract.[14]
On 23 August 2023, Krajnc returned to Italy and signed a two-year deal with Catanzaro.[15]
Krajnc has represented Slovenia at all youth levels from under-16 to under-21.[16] On 30 March 2015 he made his senior international debut, replacing Dominic Maroh after 65 minutes of an eventual 1–0 friendly defeat to Qatar at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.[17]
Krajnc, who is left footed, primarily plays in central defence and is praised for his pace, strength, passing and ability on the ball.[18]
Krajnc is from Kapla na Kozjaku in the hilly region of northeastern Slovenia near the Austrian border, roughly 37 km from the city of Maribor.[1] [19] Before moving to Maribor he usually had to study and do his homework on the back seat of his father's car, traveling to and from training.[1] [7]