Jovan Milosevic Joins SC Braga on Long-Term Deal

Jovan Milosevic’s Stuttgart chapter is over. SC Braga have moved quickly, decisively, and now officially landed the Serbian striker on a long-term deal.

The Portuguese club confirmed the transfer on Wednesday evening, tying the 21-year-old to a five-year contract that runs until 2031. Bild had already reported the move was close; a few hours later, it was done.

A tidy piece of business for Stuttgart

For VfB Stuttgart, this is exactly the kind of deal their hierarchy had been hoping for.

Milosevic, after several loan spells and limited impact, had long since shifted from “project player” to clear sale candidate. According to Bild, Braga will pay up to nine million euros including bonuses. That figure represents a hefty return on the 1.5 million euros Stuttgart paid Vojvodina Novi Sad in 2023 to bring him to the Bundesliga.

Six times their original outlay. A clean profit and, crucially, fresh income for a club now preparing for Champions League football.

On the pitch, though, Milosevic never really settled in Swabia. Over three years, he managed just six competitive appearances for Stuttgart. The promise was there, the pathway was not.

From February 2024, he was permanently on the move: first to FC St. Gallen in Switzerland, then to Partizan Belgrade back in Serbia, and finally to Werder Bremen for the second half of last season.

At Bremen, he at least offered a glimpse of his potential. Three goals in 13 appearances for SVW gave him something tangible to take into the summer. It still wasn’t enough to change minds in Stuttgart.

He returned to VfB at the end of the season, but coach Sebastian Hoeneß did not plan with him. With his contract running until 2029, Stuttgart’s task was clear: find a buyer, and find one quickly.

Udinese arrive late – but too late

Interest was not a problem. Timing was.

Udinese Calcio, one of Serie A’s established names, tried to intervene at the last moment and pull Milosevic away from Braga. The Italian side made a late push, sensing an opportunity as negotiations dragged towards their conclusion.

But the window closed on them. According to Bild, Stuttgart and Braga had already reached a final agreement on Wednesday morning. By the time Udinese came calling, the deal was effectively sealed.

Milosevic’s future lay in Portugal, not Italy.

A crowded Braga attack – and European nights

Braga, who finished fourth in the Primeira Liga last season, are not bringing Milosevic in as a luxury piece. They see him as part of a squad built to compete on multiple fronts, including in Europe.

First, though, they must get through Austria Vienna in the Conference League play-offs to reach the league phase. If they do, Milosevic will have continental football on his schedule again, this time in a new country, a new league, and under a coach who clearly believes in him.

Carlos Vicens is understood to be a strong admirer of Milosevic’s style. That matters, because the competition at centre-forward is intense.

The Serbian will have to fight his way into a frontline that already includes former Barcelona talent Pau Victor and ex-Wolfsburg striker Jonas Wind, who arrived on a free transfer after VfL’s relegation. It is a demanding environment, but also the kind of stage where a 21-year-old can redefine his career.

For Stuttgart, Milosevic becomes a line in the balance sheet and a lesson in timing. For Braga, he is a calculated bet on upside.

For the player himself, this is the reset button. The question now is simple: can he finally turn potential into permanence in northern Portugal?