Preston North End have parted ways with Milutin Osmajic, with the Montenegro forward completing a move to Italian club Genoa for an undisclosed fee. The 27-year-old departs Deepdale after three seasons, having made 111 appearances for North End and scored 31 goals in total, 25 of which came in the Championship.

A productive but turbulent spell

On pure output, Osmajic leaves as one of Preston's more effective forwards in recent memory. Twenty-five Championship goals across three seasons represents a meaningful contribution for a club that has spent much of that period operating in the lower half of the second tier. Strip away the noise and the numbers are hard to dismiss.

The noise, though, was considerable. His time at Deepdale was overshadowed by a string of disciplinary incidents that cost the club dearly in terms of both squad availability and, arguably, its public standing. In October 2024 he was banned for eight matches after being found guilty of biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck. That sanction alone effectively removed a first-choice forward for nearly two months of a Championship season. Then, in a separate matter, he was charged with racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri during a match and eventually received a nine-match ban last November.

Even on his return from that second suspension, Osmajic could not stay on the pitch. He was sent off for violent conduct in only his fourth game back, with Preston trailing 3-0 at home to Hull City. That incident summed up a pattern that the club's coaching staff could never quite resolve: a forward capable of genuine quality, but one whose discipline kept undermining every run of form.

What his exit means for Preston

Osmajic did feature in Preston's opening-day Championship defeat at Bolton Wanderers this season, though he played no part at all in the 3-1 home loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers that followed on Saturday. Whether his absence from that squad was a consequence of the imminent deal, or simply a selection call, the timing is notable: he leaves Preston having played in just one league match in the current campaign.

For manager Paul Heckingbottom, the departure creates an obvious vacancy in attack but also removes a source of instability. Managing a player who has served bans totalling 17 matches across a single season is a significant drain on planning and squad harmony. There is a reasonable case that, whatever Osmajic's goal threat, his absence simplifies Heckingbottom's job considerably.

The question now is whether Preston move quickly to find a replacement. They have begun the season with two defeats and, on the evidence of the Bolton and Wolves games, goals are not coming easily. Losing their most prolific recent forward, even one as complex a figure as Osmajic, is not straightforward to offset.

The wider picture

Genoa's decision to sign Osmajic will raise eyebrows given his disciplinary record, though it also reflects a judgement that his underlying quality is worth the risk. The fee is undisclosed, so we do not have the numbers to assess what, if anything, Preston have recouped on a player signed from Swiss football three years ago.

From a Championship perspective, Osmajic's exit is a reminder of how difficult it is to retain players who perform at this level over a sustained period. Whether the move ultimately frees Preston to rebuild their attack on more reliable foundations, or simply leaves them short of firepower in the early weeks of the season, will become clearer as the summer window closes.

Frequently asked

Why did Milutin Osmajic leave Preston North End?
Osmajic joined Italian club Genoa for an undisclosed fee after three seasons at Deepdale. His time at Preston was marked by two lengthy bans for biting and alleged racial abuse, and he left having played just once in the current Championship season.
How many goals did Osmajic score for Preston?
Osmajic scored 31 goals in 111 appearances for Preston North End, with 25 of those coming in Championship league football.
Who will replace Osmajic at Preston North End?
Preston have not confirmed a replacement yet. The club started the season with two defeats and will likely need to add attacking options before the transfer window closes.