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    • Crvena Zvezda to Sell Defender Stefan Leković for €1.25 Million

    By Serbia News May 19, 2026
    Crvena Zvezda is set to receive €1,250,000 from the transfer of young defender Stefan Leković. Leković will make his loan move to the Portuguese club Estrela permanent.
    Crvena Zvezda to Sell Defender Stefan Leković for €1.25 Million

    Crvena Zvezda to Sell Defender Stefan Leković for €1.25 Million Crvena Zvezda’s latest transfer move is less about drama and more about cold, clean cash: a loanee turned savior in Portugal is now a €1.25 million permanent sale.

    From loanee to survival hero

    Over the last six months, young defender Stefan Leković has been on loan at Portuguese side Estrela, fighting to keep them in the top flight. In the final round of the Portuguese championship, he scored twice against Braga and effectively kept Estrela in the elite, a breakout moment that made a permanent deal almost inevitable.

    The deal takes shape

    As the season closed, speculation swirled in the media about Leković’s future. But behind the noise, negotiations solidified: Crvena Zvezda would receive €1,250,000, and Estrela would keep the 20‑year‑old center‑back who had just proven he could decide a season.

    Leković breaks the suspense

    Leković himself moved to end the guessing game. Aware of the mounting rumors, he made it clear he wasn’t planning on coming back to Belgrade. “There was a lot of talk and speculation in the media even before the match, but the situation is quite clear,” he said, noting that all that remained was bureaucracy: “In the next few days all the necessary paperwork should be completed, so we can officially finish the whole job regarding my signing for Estrela.”

    Pro‑government spin: money in the bank

    Pro‑government sports outlets wasted no time framing the move as a financial win for Zvezda, trumpeting that “earnings” are “coming to Marakana” as the club “sells [its] defender and gets 1,250,000 euros.” The emphasis is squarely on the windfall rather than on losing a promising homegrown defender.

    In the official narrative, this is smart business: a loan that saved Estrela, showcased Leković, and now brings seven‑figure income back to Belgrade — with the player himself seemingly eager to stay exactly where he is.

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