Preston North End have confirmed the departure of forward Milutin Osmajic, who has completed a move to Italian Serie A side Genoa for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old Montenegro international spent three seasons at Deepdale, during which he made 111 appearances and contributed 31 goals to the Lilywhites' cause. Despite his productivity in front of goal, Osmajic's stint in English football was frequently overshadowed by a series of disciplinary issues that put him at the center of repeated controversy.
Among the most notable incidents was an eight-match suspension handed down in October 2024 after he was found guilty of biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck during a Championship encounter. The punishment marked one of the more serious disciplinary sanctions imposed on a player in the division in recent memory.
Just months later, in early 2025, Osmajic found himself embroiled in further trouble when he was accused of directing racially abusive language at Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. Following an investigation, the striker was formally charged and subsequently banned for nine matches, a punishment confirmed last November.
His troubles did not end there. Upon returning from that lengthy suspension, Osmajic lasted only four Championship appearances before being sent off again, this time for violent conduct in a home fixture against Hull City, with Preston already trailing 3-0 at the time of his dismissal.
The pattern of disciplinary breaches appeared to affect his standing within the squad in the closing stages of his Preston career. He featured in the club's opening-day defeat away at Bolton Wanderers this season but was left out entirely for the subsequent home loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, suggesting his future at the club was already in doubt before the move to Italy was finalized.
Osmajic's exit brings to a close a turbulent chapter for both player and club. While his goal-scoring record over three seasons represented a respectable return for a forward operating in the Championship, the recurring off-field and disciplinary issues will likely define much of the narrative surrounding his time in Lancashire.
For Genoa, the acquisition represents a gamble on a player with clear attacking ability but a checkered disciplinary history. The Serie A club will be hoping that a change of scenery and league can help the Montenegrin forward focus on delivering consistent performances without the disruptions that characterized his final period in England.
Preston, meanwhile, will now need to reassess their attacking options following Osmajic's departure, particularly given that he had already been sidelined from matchday squads before the transfer was completed. The club has not yet indicated whether it plans to bring in a replacement forward before the transfer window closes.
Osmajic becomes the latest in a growing list of players to move between English and Italian football in recent transfer windows, though few have arrived at a new club carrying quite the same reputation for controversy. How he adapts to life in Serie A, both on and off the pitch, will be closely watched by observers in both countries.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.