“THE NEW SIGNING LIVERPOOL ALREADY HAD” — Stefan Bajčetić’s Remarkable Return Could Give Andoni Iraola the Midfielder Arne Slot Never Truly Got to Use

While many Liverpool stars are either representing their countries at the World Cup or enjoying well-earned holidays after a demanding campaign, one player has quietly returned to work with something to prove.

Away from the spotlight, away from transfer speculation, and far from the headlines dominated by multi-million-pound signings, Stefan Bajčetić has begun what may be the most important summer of his career.

The Spanish midfielder was back on the training pitches at the AXA Training Centre this weekend, and for some inside Liverpool, his return carries the feeling of a brand-new signing.

After nearly three years of injuries, setbacks, loan moves, and missed opportunities, Bajčetić now finds himself facing a fresh challenge: convincing new head coach Andoni Iraola that he can still become the player many once believed would define Liverpool’s midfield for the next decade.

For a generation of Liverpool supporters, Bajčetić’s rise seemed destined to be one of the club’s great academy success stories.

Back in the 2022-23 season, he emerged almost from nowhere.

At a time when Liverpool’s midfield was showing signs of decline, the teenager injected energy, composure, and technical quality into Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Fans quickly fell in love with his fearless style.

Whether playing in high-pressure Premier League matches or intense derby encounters, he appeared completely unfazed.

His ability to receive possession under pressure, evade challenges, and dictate tempo drew comparisons with some of Europe’s most gifted young midfielders.

Suddenly, Liverpool looked to have uncovered a gem.

Then everything changed.

An adductor injury suffered against Bournemouth in March 2023 would become the turning point nobody anticipated.

At first, the problem appeared manageable.

Few imagined it would derail almost three years of development.

Yet what followed was a nightmare sequence of physical setbacks that repeatedly interrupted his progress.

Each time recovery appeared close, another obstacle emerged.

Each time momentum returned, it disappeared again.

As Liverpool evolved, Bajčetić’s place in the squad slowly faded from public discussion.

New signings arrived.

New tactical systems emerged.

New stars took center stage.

The once-promising teenager gradually became football’s most dangerous thing—a forgotten talent.

Perhaps the most astonishing statistic highlights just how cruel the period has been.

His last appearance for Liverpool came under Jurgen Klopp in May 2024.

His last start arrived even earlier.

Many supporters would struggle to remember it.

Some younger fans may barely remember seeing him play at all.

Yet inside the club, belief never completely disappeared.

Those who worked closely with Bajčetić continued to insist that his talent remained exceptional.

Several coaches reportedly maintained private confidence that, if fully fit, he still possessed the qualities required to become a top-level Premier League midfielder.

That belief was one reason Liverpool resisted suggestions of permanently moving him on.

Instead, the club focused on rebuilding him.

The first chapter of that process took him to Austria with Red Bull Salzburg.

The move initially appeared ideal.

Regular playing time.

A competitive environment.

And the presence of Pep Lijnders, one of the coaches who knew him best.

But football rarely follows predictable scripts.

Shortly after Bajčetić arrived, managerial changes disrupted the project.

Lijnders departed.

The environment shifted.

Development plans changed.

Suddenly, another adjustment became necessary.

A return to Spain followed, with Las Palmas offering a different opportunity to regain confidence and match sharpness.

The results were mixed.

There were encouraging moments.

There were frustrating moments.

Most importantly, there was playing time.

After so many months spent fighting injury battles, simply being on the pitch again represented progress.

Behind the scenes, however, sources close to the player suggest the real work never stopped.

Fitness sessions.

Strength conditioning.

Technical training.

Mental preparation.

All became part of a long-term plan aimed at rebuilding not only his body but also his confidence.

Those closest to him reportedly describe the last two years as mentally tougher than physically difficult.

Watching teammates progress while repeatedly battling setbacks tested his resilience.

Many young players never recover from such interruptions.

Some lose confidence.

Others lose opportunities.

Bajčetić has been determined to avoid both outcomes.

That determination is why his return to Liverpool training has generated growing interest among club observers.

The timing is particularly fascinating because Liverpool now enter a new era under Andoni Iraola.

Every new manager creates opportunities.

Players previously overlooked suddenly receive fresh evaluations.

Old assumptions disappear.

Reputations are reset.

For Bajčetić, that could prove crucial.

Unlike established stars whose positions are secure, he arrives at pre-season as something of an unknown quantity.

In some ways, that may actually benefit him.

Iraola has no direct memories of Bajčetić’s injury struggles.

No emotional attachment to past disappointments.

No preconceived judgment.

Only what he sees on the training ground.

And what he sees could potentially surprise him.

Several analysts believe Bajčetić’s profile fits many of the qualities Iraola values.

The Liverpool coach is known for demanding intensity, intelligence, technical security, and tactical flexibility.

Those attributes once defined Bajčetić’s game.

Before injuries interrupted his rise, he demonstrated an unusual maturity for a player of his age.

His understanding of space consistently impressed coaching staff.

His ability to progress possession under pressure became one of his greatest strengths.

And despite originally arriving at Liverpool as a center-back, he displayed remarkable adaptability across multiple positions.

That versatility could become increasingly valuable.

Liverpool’s midfield remains highly competitive.

Breaking into the starting eleven will not be easy.

But football often rewards persistence.

One strong pre-season can alter perceptions.

One impressive training camp can reshape a career.

History is filled with examples of players written off before producing remarkable comebacks.

Those inside Liverpool know this better than most.

Interestingly, former manager Arne Slot once spoke enthusiastically about Bajčetić before sending him out on loan.

Slot repeatedly emphasized that the midfielder’s long-term future remained at Anfield.

At the time, he described him as a player capable of becoming “very important” for Liverpool.

Yet circumstances prevented that vision from fully developing.

Injuries delayed progress.

Competition increased.

Timing worked against him.

As a result, Slot never truly had the opportunity to integrate a fully fit Bajčetić into his plans.

Now, that opportunity may belong to Iraola instead.

Some supporters have already begun describing the Spaniard as Liverpool’s “hidden signing” of the summer.

Not because he is new.

But because so few have seen what he can do in recent years.

The talent that excited Anfield has never completely disappeared.

It has simply been waiting.

Waiting for fitness.

Waiting for continuity.

Waiting for a chance.

As pre-season approaches, there is no guarantee that Bajčetić will become a Liverpool regular.

There is no guarantee he will secure a starting place.

There is no guarantee he will even remain at the club beyond the transfer window.

But for the first time in a long time, there is something that seemed absent during much of the past three years:

Opportunity.

And sometimes, in football, opportunity is all a talented player needs.

For Stefan Bajčetić, this summer may represent more than another pre-season.

It may represent the final opportunity to fulfill the promise that once made him one of Liverpool’s brightest young stars.

And if he succeeds, Andoni Iraola could discover that the midfielder Liverpool spent years searching for was already waiting at the AXA Training Centre all along.