Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic is poised to leave the Championship club for Serie A side Genoa, manager Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed, in a reported £3million deal.
The move is not yet fully completed but appears imminent after Heckingbottom said the deal had been agreed, ending the Preston career of one of English football's most controversial players.
Preston will need to find a replacement quickly having lost their opening two Championship matches of the season, against Bolton Wanderers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Osmajic arrived at Deepdale as Preston's record signing for around £2.1million in September 2023, but quickly became known for a string of disciplinary incidents.
Biting ban
In October 2024, he was given an eight-game ban for biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck on the neck during a 0-0 draw at Deepdale the previous month.
Osmajic left teeth marks on Beck's shoulder but escaped a red card at the time because referee Matt Donohue had not seen the incident. Donohue instead sent off Beck, who had kicked out at Duane Holmes moments earlier.
Racism allegation
In February 2025, Osmajic was accused of racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri during another goalless draw at Deepdale, an allegation he strongly denied.
It took until November that year for a decision to be reached, with the Football Association handing him a nine-game ban, a £21,000 fine and a mandatory education course.
Reports suggested Hannibal had reported Osmajic for calling him a "black man," while Osmajic's defenders insisted he had instead said "f*** you, bad man."
Preston backed their player, saying they were "extremely disappointed" at the ban and adding: "We note that the outcome was determined on the 'Balance of Probabilities' rather than one that is 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt'."
Burnley's players refused to shake Osmajic's hand before an FA Cup fifth-round tie between the two clubs two weeks later. Osmajic scored in that game and mocked Burnley fans in his celebration.
Hannibal wrote on social media after the original match on 15 February: "I will not be silent about what happened today. I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it. That is the only way we change as a sport and a society. I am a strong person but nobody should have to experience this disgusting abuse on the pitch."
Headbutt on Lundstram
In January last season, Osmajic further damaged his reputation by headbutting Hull City's John Lundstram during a 3-0 defeat.
The forward initially pushed Lundstram away, prompting players from both sides and referee Stephen Martin to run over. Osmajic then headbutted Lundstram directly in front of the official, who reached for his pocket and sent him off after leading him away from the crowd of players.
Osmajic was seen smiling after his dismissal, before pulling his shirt over his face as he left the pitch. He received a three-match ban for violent conduct, and the incident contributed to a melee in which one member of staff from each club was sent off.
Manager's response
Heckingbottom said at the time: "A lack of discipline is totally unacceptable. In my time here if he gets three games for that, it will have been 20 games missed. They are different issues, don't get me wrong, but a sending off for a tackle or something to help the team is a lot different."
"He has not learned his lesson. The issues are totally unconnected in terms of football aren't they. In terms of other things, the word professional, we are professional people and footballers, there is a way to act. Whether that's a tackle on the pitch, discipline away from it, training ground, there is a way to be professional."
Record at Preston
Despite the controversies, Osmajic remains popular with Preston supporters and will leave the club with a record of 31 goals from 102 appearances.
