Milutin Osmajić

Milutin Osmajić
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-07-25) 25 July 1999
Place of birth Nikšić, Montenegro, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Genoa
Number 18
Youth career
Sutjeska Nikšić
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Sutjeska Nikšić 82 (18)
2021–2022 Cádiz B 2 (0)
2021–2023 Cádiz 11 (0)
2022 → Bandırmaspor (loan) 13 (7)
2022–2023 → Vizela (loan) 31 (8)
2023–2026 Preston North End 99 (25)
2026– Genoa 0 (0)
International career‡
2018–2020 Montenegro U21 5 (3)
2020– Montenegro 36 (9)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 04:16, 24 August 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 20:10, 31 March 2026 (UTC)

Milutin Osmajić (Serbian: Милутин Осмајић; born 25 July 1999) is a Montenegrin professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Genoa and the Montenegro national team.[1][2]

Club career

FK Sutjeska Nikšić

Osmajić began his career with FK Sutjeska Nikšić, making his senior debut in March 2018. He helped his side to win the 2018–19 Montenegrin First League, and was also the club's second-best goalscorer in 2020–21, with 13 goals.

Cadiz

On 9 July 2021, Osmajić signed a three-year deal with La Liga side Cádiz CF.[3] He made his top tier debut on 14 August, coming on in the 70th minute for Anthony Lozano in a 1–1 draw with Levante UD.

On 31 January 2022, Osmajić was loaned to Turkish side Bandırmaspor until June.[4] On 10 August, he switched teams and countries again after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Portuguese Primeira Liga side F.C. Vizela.[5]

Preston North End

On 1 September 2023, Osmajić signed for EFL Championship club Preston North End on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee reported to be a club record for Preston.[6][7] His first goal came as the match-winner against Birmingham City on 19 September 2023 and allowed Preston to retain their spot at the top of the Championship.[8] On 9 April 2024, he came on as a late substitute in a home game against Huddersfield Town and scored a hat-trick in six minutes to cement a 4–1 win.[9] Without scoring a single goal in the period between the two, Osmajić scored another hat-trick for Preston in their 5-0 victory over Harrogate Town in the second round of the League Cup on 27 August 2024.[10]

On 22 September 2024, Osmajić caught attention following a derby match against Blackburn Rovers, as imagery suggested he had bitten opposition player Owen Beck's neck; who received a red card, as he kicked-out at Duane Holmes. Osmajić received a yellow card, for dissent, during the incident.[11] He was subsequently banned by The Football Association (FA) for eight matches and fined £15,000.[12]

On 15 February 2025, Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri accused Osmajić of racially abusing him during a match between the two clubs. The match had been delayed for several minutes in the second half after Mejbri reacted furiously to a comment that Osmajić had made. Osmajić "strongly refuted" the claim.[13] On 17 March, he was charged by the FA for verbal assault towards Mejbri.[14] On 7 November, Osmajić received a nine match ban after an independent panel found him guilty of racially abusing Mejbri (probability charge).[15]

At the end of a match during injury time against Hull City on 20 January 2026, as Preston North End trailed 3–0, Osmajić headbutted Hull City player John Lundstram, resulting in Osmajić's ejection from the match.[16] Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom criticized Osmajić after the match for his "lack of discipline".[17]

Genoa

On 24 August 2026, Osmajić joined Serie A side Genoa on a permanent move for an undisclosed fee.[2]

International career

Osmajić made his international debut for Montenegro on 11 November 2020 in a friendly match against Kazakhstan.[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 August 2026[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sutjeska Nikšić UVF 2017–18 Montenegrin First League 13200——132
2018–19 Montenegrin First League 23200—1[c]0242
2019–20 Montenegrin First League 12100—1[d]0131
2020–21 Montenegrin First League 341311—1[c]03614
Total 821811—308619
Cádiz B 2021–22 Segunda División RFEF 20———20
Cádiz 2021–22 La Liga 10031——131
2022–23 La Liga 0000——00
2023–24 La Liga 1000——10
Total 11031——141
Bandırmaspor (loan) 2021–22 TFF First League 13710——147
Vizela (loan) 2022–23 Primeira Liga 3182020—358
Preston North End 2023–24 Championship 3681000—378
2024–25 Championship 3493333—4015
2025–26 Championship 2881020—318
2026–27 Championship 10—10—20
Total 99255363—11031
Genoa 2026–27 Serie A 0000——00
Career total 23858125833026166

International

As of 31 March 2026[18]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Montenegro 202010
202190
202231
202381
202450
202562
202623
Total347
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.28 March 2022Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro Greece1–01–0Friendly
2.12 October 2023 Lebanon3–13–2
3.13 October 2025 Liechtenstein1–12–1
4.17 November 2025 Croatia1–02–32026 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.27 March 2026 Andorra2–02–0Friendly
6.31 March 2026 Slovenia1–03–2
7.2–1
8.5 June 2026Košická futbalová aréna, Košice, Slovakia Slovakia1–12–2
9.2–1

Honours

Sutjeska

References

  1. ↑ Milutin Osmajić at WorldFootball.net
  2. 1 2 "Milutin Osmajić joins Genoa". www.pnefc.net. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Milutin Osmajić, polivalencia y olfato goleador" [Milutin Osmajić, versatility and goalscoring touch] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Osmajic se marcha cedido al Bandirmaspor turco" [Osmajic moves out on loan to Turkish Bandirmaspor] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Milutin Osmajic jugará cedido en el Vizela portugués" [Milutin Osmajic will play on loan at Portuguese Vizela] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "Preston bring in striker Osmajic and winger Millar". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Hodgson, George (September 2023). "Milutin Osmajic confirmed as PNE break transfer record to sign Cadiz striker". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Osmajic winner extends Preston's unbeaten run". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Preston win to raise Huddersfield drop fears". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  10. ↑ "Carabao Cup: Harrogate Town 0-5 Preston North End". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  11. ↑ "Blackburn's Beck 'has bite mark' after Osmajic clash". BBC News. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  12. ↑ "Milutin Osmajic: Preston North End striker banned for eight games for bite". BBC Sport. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "Burnley's Hannibal accuses Preston's Osmajic of racial abuse". BBC Sport. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  14. ↑ "Milutin Osmajic charged by FA over alleged racial abuse of Hannibal Mejbri". The Guardian. 17 March 2025.
  15. ↑ Freeman, Jay (15 February 2025). "Osmajic gets nine-game ban for racially abusing Hannibal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "Hull City blew play-off rivals Preston North End away to keep themselves in contention for an automatic promotion place". BBC Sport. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "Preston North End 0-3 Hull City: Tigers romp to victory as Milutin Osmajic sees late red". Sky Sports. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  18. 1 2 "Montenegro-Kazakhstan | UEFA Nations League". UEFA. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  19. ↑ Milutin Osmajić at Soccerway
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