The women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin have further strengthened their squad with the signing of 20-year-old attacking midfielder Korina Janez, a Slovenian international who has already gained a wealth of experience in the top two divisions in Germany.

From young star to Bundesliga player

Janez was born in Ljubljana and came through the youth ranks of ZNK Krim. She won the national championship with the club's U-17s in both 2020 and 2021 and was crowned top scorer in the youth league in 2020/21. The attacking player made her debut at 16 for the club's first team, scoring five goals in eight games, making her first appearance for the Slovenian national team just a few months later, in December 2020. Janez moved to league rivals ZNK Radomlje for the 2021/22 season. After a year in which she scored 15 goals in 20 games, second-division club RasenBallsport Leipzig signed the Slovenian in the summer of 2022.

In Leipzig, Janez alternated between the starting eleven and the bench throughout the 2022/23 season, playing a total of 20 competitive matches, in which she scored five goals and provided one assist. At the end of the season, Janez and her team celebrated their first promotion to the Bundesliga. Janez made her Bundesliga debut in their second match of the season in a 3-2 win against SGS Essen. This was followed by ten further top flight appearances. Janez played a total of 32 games in Leipzig.

Three facts about Korina 

• Janez started judo at the age of six and took part in several national competitions for her school. In 2013 and 2014, she became national champion in her age group; most recently, she was a blue belt.
• She has played 13 international matches for the Slovenian national team.
• Janez has already played with Fatma Sakar in Leipzig where they both celebrated promotion to the Bundesliga.

The views on the transfer

"I'm very happy and proud that I was able to sign here,” said Janez on her arrival in Köpenick. “Union are an incredible club with a cool vision and I already know a few of the players. Now I'm looking forward to seeing the fans and the atmosphere and hope that we can achieve as much success as possible together. I want to give it my all."

"Despite her young age, Korina is already a Slovenian international and has already gained experience in both national leagues,” said Union’s director of women’s football, Jennifer Zietz, on the signing. “She has also won the 2. Bundesliga and knows how to play football successfully in this league. We are convinced that she still has a lot of potential and can enrich our midfield."