Liverpool agree carefully structured Bajcetic transfer
Stefan Bajcetic is poised to return to Celta Vigo after Liverpool agreed a permanent transfer designed to give the midfielder the regular football his career now requires.
According to Spanish journalist Diego Otero, Celta Vigo will pay Liverpool €1.5 million plus performance-related add-ons. Bajcetic is expected to sign a three-year contract, while Liverpool will retain a buy-back option.
Otero reported: “Agreement closed between Liverpool and Celta for Stefan Bajcetic. Celta will pay €1.5m plus objectives. The player will sign for three seasons and will begin with Fortuna. Liverpool retain a buy-back option.”
That final detail may prove to be the most significant part of the transaction. Liverpool are accepting a modest initial fee for a player once regarded as one of their most exciting young midfielders, but they have not entirely surrendered their interest in his future.
Earlier reporting from Matteo Moretto indicated that negotiations also involved bonuses and a percentage of any future sale. The precise terms will therefore merit attention once the transfer is officially confirmed.
Rapid Liverpool rise interrupted by physical setbacks
Bajcetic joined Liverpool from Celta Vigo in December 2020, when he was only 16. The reported compensation was approximately €250,000 for a teenager who had progressed through Celta’s A Madroa academy without representing their senior side.
His development on Merseyside initially gathered pace. Bajcetic made his senior Liverpool debut at 17 during the 9-0 Premier League victory over Bournemouth in August 2022. He went on to make 22 first-team appearances, score once and receive a Liverpool player of the month award.
Possession came naturally to him. He appeared calm under pressure, understood where danger was developing and played with a maturity that made his age seem almost irrelevant. During a difficult period for Liverpool, his emergence offered genuine encouragement.
Physical problems subsequently changed the direction of his career. Instead of establishing himself in the Liverpool midfield, Bajcetic was forced into repeated periods of rehabilitation.
Loan spells were intended to restore his rhythm. He made 19 appearances for Red Bull Salzburg during the first half of the 2024-25 season before joining Las Palmas, where he played 14 La Liga matches and scored once. Las Palmas were eventually relegated, while Bajcetic later underwent hamstring surgery following further complications.
Celta Fortuna provide patient route towards recovery
Registering Bajcetic with Celta Fortuna may appear unusual for a footballer with senior experience in the Premier League, Champions League, Bundesliga and La Liga. In reality, it reflects the need for patience.
Bajcetic has spent a prolonged period without competitive football. Placing him immediately into Celta Vigo’s first-team midfield would bring expectations that neither the club nor the player needs at this stage.
Fortuna can instead provide meaningful minutes in the Spanish second tier, allowing Bajcetic to rebuild his sharpness and confidence away from the fiercest scrutiny. The longer-term intention is reportedly for him to challenge for a first-team position once his fitness has been properly established.
Celta Fortuna coach Fredi Álvarez publicly confirmed the club’s interest and explained why Bajcetic suited their requirements. “He can perform as a central midfielder,” Álvarez said, while also highlighting the player’s versatility. The coach acknowledged that Bajcetic’s physical problems had made an otherwise difficult signing possible, adding: “Hopefully it can happen.”
Claudio Giráldez’s familiarity with Bajcetic also offers reassurance. The Celta Vigo head coach worked with him during his academy years and understands both his ability and the environment in which he first developed.
Buy-back clause keeps Liverpool door slightly open
For Liverpool, the transfer is an exercise in realism rather than a definitive judgement on Bajcetic’s talent.
Competition for midfield places is considerable, while Trey Nyoni is among the younger players Liverpool want to develop. Bajcetic needs more than occasional substitute appearances or another uncertain loan. He needs a club prepared to build a recovery plan around him.
Celta Vigo can provide that. A return to Galicia offers familiarity, family connections and coaches who already understand his qualities. It also removes some of the pressure attached to proving himself again at Anfield.
Liverpool’s buy-back option ensures that a successful revival would not necessarily place Bajcetic permanently beyond their reach. Should his hamstring withstand the demands of regular football and his earlier promise re-emerge, the club would retain a route to bring him back.
Much will depend on fitness. Bajcetic’s reading of the game and technical quality have never been the central concern. His challenge is to remain available long enough for those attributes to matter consistently.
This is therefore less a quiet ending than a calculated reset. Celta Vigo gain a gifted midfielder at a relatively low cost, Bajcetic receives a credible route back into senior football, and Liverpool preserve a degree of control over what happens next.
