Jovan Milosevic Joins SC Braga: A New Chapter Begins
Jovan Milosevic’s Stuttgart chapter is over. On Wednesday evening, SC Braga made official what had been brewing for days: the 21-year-old Serbian striker has signed a five-year deal with the Portuguese club, tying him down until 2031.
Stuttgart cash in on a stalled project
For VfB Stuttgart, this is the clean break they had been waiting for. Milosevic, once a highly rated prospect, had slipped firmly into the “sale candidate” category after a string of loan spells and limited impact in the first team.
According to Bild, Braga will pay up to nine million euros including bonuses. For Stuttgart, that figure is eye-catching. They had spent just 1.5 million euros to bring Milosevic from Vojvodina Novi Sad in 2023. Six times their original outlay, and crucial extra income for a club preparing for Champions League football.
The profit stands in stark contrast to his role on the pitch. Despite his potential, Milosevic never really settled in Swabia. Over the past three years, he managed only six competitive appearances for VfB. The path to regular minutes in Stuttgart simply never opened up.
From February 2024, he was permanently on the move. First came a loan to FC St. Gallen in Switzerland, then a spell at Partizan Belgrade back in Serbia, and finally half a season in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.
Goals in Bremen, but no future at VfB
At Werder, Milosevic at least reminded people why he had been so highly regarded. Three goals in 13 appearances for SVW was a respectable return and suggested there was more to come.
It did not change his status at his parent club.
He returned to Stuttgart in the summer, but coach Sebastian Hoeneß did not have him in his plans. With his contract at VfB running until 2029, the club shifted focus to finding a permanent buyer for the two-time Serbia international.
They found more than one.
Udinese arrive late – but Braga win the race
Udinese Calcio tried to intervene at the last moment. The Serie A side moved late in an attempt to pull Milosevic away from Braga and bring him to Italy.
The timing was bold. The outcome was clear.
According to Bild, Stuttgart and Braga had already reached a final agreement on Wednesday morning. By the evening, the deal was sealed and announced. Udinese were too late.
A new stage, fierce competition
Braga, who finished fourth in Portugal last season, offer Milosevic a different kind of stage. If they come through their Conference League play-off against Austria Vienna, they will step into the league phase of European competition. Milosevic could be part of that journey.
He will not walk into a guaranteed starting spot.
At centre-forward, Braga are stacked. Milosevic will have to fight for minutes against, among others, former Barcelona talent Pau Victor and ex-Wolfsburg striker Jonas Wind, who arrived on a free transfer after VfL’s relegation.
An ambitious club, a long contract, European nights on the horizon and real competition for his position: Milosevic finally has a clear path laid out in front of him.
What he makes of it now is entirely up to him.
