Red Star Belgrade Roster Shake-Up: Wonderkids Rising, Major Exits, and a €5M Bundesliga Transfer

BELGRADE — Fresh off securing another historic domestic double, Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) is wasting no time reshaping its roster for the upcoming season. As the summer transfer window officially opens, the Marakana is buzzing with activity. From globally recognized teenagers to high-profile free agency departures and a massive multimillion-euro sale to Germany, management is moving quickly to prepare the squad for the upcoming European qualifiers.

Here is your comprehensive breakdown of the latest breaking team news and transfer updates out of Belgrade.

The Rise of Adem Avdić: A Global Standard

In a massive nod to the club’s youth development pipeline, 18-year-old left-back Adem Avdić has skyrocketed into the international spotlight. According to the latest data and research published by the CIES Football Observatory, Avdić has been officially ranked among the top five young defenders in the entire world.

The academy graduate enjoyed a spectacular breakout year, and this global recognition confirms what the Marakana faithful already knew: Zvezda possesses one of the most elite defensive prospects in modern football. Retaining him amid inevitable heavy interest from Europe’s top five leagues will be a primary objective for the board this summer.

High-Profile Exits: Glazer and Radonjić Enter Free Agency

It is the end of an era for two major first-team staples. Israeli international goalkeeper Omri Glazer and dynamic winger Nemanja Radonjić have officially reached the expiration of their contracts. With no extensions signed, both players have parted ways with the club and entered the market as free agents.

Glazer’s departure marks a massive guard-changing moment between the sticks. The primary goal-keeping duties will now fall entirely to Brazilian shot-stopper Matheus, who is tasked with anchoring the defense ahead of the high-stakes European qualifying rounds.

€5 Million Deal: Aleksa Damjanović Bound for Bayer Leverkusen

The biggest financial headline of the window belongs to Aleksa Damjanović. The exceptionally talented young forward has officially agreed to terms on a blockbuster move to Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen.

The German club will pay a reported €5 million fee to secure the starlet’s services. The transfer is finalized and set to take effect on July 1, marking a massive step forward for Damjanović’s career and providing Red Star with significant financial leverage to reinvest back into the squad this summer.

The Return of the Loanees

Depth is crucial for a grueling European campaign, and Red Star is about to get a major injection of familiar talent. Several players who spent last season gaining valuable first-team minutes on loan are officially scheduled to return to the first-team fold on June 30.

Chief among the returnees are highly-rated midfielder Jovan Šljivić and winger Egor Prutsev. Both players will report straight to pre-season training, giving the coaching staff an immediate look at how they can fit into the tactical setup for the upcoming campaign.

⚽ Looking Ahead: Pre-Season and Zenit Friendly

With domestic dominance safely secured, management’s absolute focus has shifted to building a squad capable of navigating the treacherous path back to European group-stage football.

Pre-season training is set to kick off imminently to integrate the returning loanees and any new summer signings. The club has also confirmed a marquee pre-season test: Red Star will travel to face Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg in a high-profile friendly match on July 12, serving as the ultimate litmus test before the competitive European qualifiers begin.