Bristol City coach reveals how Stefan Bajic stood out from 12 targets as No1 race intensifies

Stefan Bajic was the pick of the bunch out of 12 goalkeepers coach Pat Mountain watched in great detail over the summer.

The 20-year-old French stopper became the fourth summer signing through the door on a free transfer, agreeing to a three-year contract after leaving Ligue 2 club Pau following a short-term six-month stint.

Prior to that, Bajic came through the youth system at St Etienne where he became their youngest ever player to start a league game during the 2019-20 campaign aged 17. He made nine appearances in the French top flight and a further three in the Coupe de France.

Bajic also arrives into BS3 with international pedigree having featured in all of France's youth sides including playing for his country at the Euro's Under-19 Championship alongside Han-Noah Massengo in 2019 where they were knocked out by Spain in the semi-finals on penalties.

For goalkeeping coach Mountain, the move was a no-brainer. He said: "If there's an opportunity to add to your goalkeeping department by signing an international goalkeeper on a free transfer it's something we didn't really want to turn down. His arrival only enhances the group of goalkeepers that we've got here.

"I get sent hundreds of messages from agents, from the recruitment department - if it's a goalkeeper, it normally gets chest deflected straight to me to check it. You're always looking at what's there and what's available.

"We were made aware he was available and over the summer holidays and he was probably one of 10-12 goalies that I looked at with a lot of detail and I thought if we can get him on a free transfer, he's only 20, he's already played in the top two levels in France then why not?"

While Bajic is likely to be slowly introduced to the rigours of