Bálint Csóka will continue writing his story at his boyhood club for years to come! The 23-year-old DAC academy graduate has agreed to a two-year contract extension, keeping him in Dunajská Streda until at least the summer of 2029.

His journey to the first team has not been a straightforward one. He developed as a footballer at our academy, joining at the age of 12. He later gained valuable experience at Šamorín, Győr and Komárno before returning to Dunajská Streda at the beginning of this year. In the spring, he featured for our junior team in the third tier and gradually earned his way back into the first-team squad. He joined the senior side for pre-season in the summer, travelled with the team to the training camp in Austria and steadily earned more opportunities through his performances.

His first chances came in the UEFA Conference League and the Slovnaft Cup, followed by appearances in the Niké Liga. He made his league debut against Podbrezová, providing an assist for Ouro´s goal. In October, he scored his first league goal in yellow and blue away at Žilina. To date, he has made 10 Niké Liga appearances for our first team, scoring once and providing three assists. He has also featured once in the UEFA Conference League and twice in the Slovnaft Cup.

“I’m very happy that we managed to extend the contract. It wasn’t easy, but simply being able to start pre-season with the first team was already a huge reward for me. We had a new coach, the squad stayed together and everyone welcomed me very warmly. My next goal was to travel with the team to the training camp in Austria, and I managed to achieve that too. From that point on, I knew that everything would depend on me and my performances. Fortunately, things went well and I gradually started getting more and more opportunities,” he said, describing his return to the first team.

“There was one weekend early in the season when our junior team played against Gabčíkovo and the first team had a match in Komárno. In the end, I didn’t feature in either game. At that moment, I told myself that if I just kept waiting, I might not get another opportunity. Then came the match against Podbrezová, where I recorded my first assist. From then on, I was given more and more playing time, even starting matches. Later, I also managed to score my first goal for DAC’s first team. I’m experiencing great euphoria at the moment. All the work I’ve put in recently and over the past few years is finally starting to pay off. I’m extremely happy and proud of myself, too. If you persevere, football and God will reward you,” he added after signing his new contract.

The extension also carries a special emotional significance for Bálint. “I feel at home here. DAC is my home, and yellow and blue runs through my heart. I grew up here and have been playing for this club since I was 12. It’s an indescribable feeling to have now signed a new contract with DAC. I think only someone who was born here can truly understand that feeling and the great responsibility that comes with it. At the same time, it’s a gift for me because I can set an example for other children and young players at the academy, but also for adults. I want to show them that if they never give up, they can achieve anything in life.”

“Bálint’s story is a great example of perseverance, hard work and the determination to make it to the top. A product of our academy, his journey wasn’t always a straight line. He needed to take a different path and gain valuable experience elsewhere before earning his way back to our first team. But he never stopped believing, never stopped working and, when he got his second opportunity this summer, he grabbed it with both hands,” said DAC sporting director Jan-Pieter Martens, adding: “Today, we’re delighted to have him back at DAC and to see him increasingly making his mark in the first team. We believe there is still a lot more to come from him. He has the talent, the mentality and the hunger to take further steps in his development. By extending his contract, we’re not just rewarding the progress he has made — we’re showing our belief in what he can still achieve in a DAC shirt.”