Žan Celar (born 14 March 1999) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Swiss Super League club Basel and the Slovenia national team.
Club career Roma Celar made his Serie A debut for Roma on 11 March 2019 in a game against Empoli, as an 86th-minute substitute for Patrik Schick.
On 10 July 2019, Celar joined Serie B club Cittadella on loan until January 2020. On 30 January 2020, he moved on loan to Cremonese. After scoring two goals in eleven appearances during the 2019–20 Serie B season, his loan was extended for another season in August 2020.
Lugano In the summer of 2021, Celar joined Swiss Super League club Lugano on a contract until 2025, joining his countryman Sandi Lovrić. He was given the number 19 jersey. In his first season with the club, Celar won the 2021–22 Swiss Cup, and also scored in the final against St. Gallen as Lugano won 4–1. Overall, he scored 40 goals in 95 appearances in the Swiss Super League over the course of three seasons, and was also the league's top scorer in the 2023–24 season.
Queens Park Rangers On 19 July 2024, Celar transferred to the EFL Championship side Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut for the club on 10 August in a 3–1 loss against West Bromwich Albion. On 23 November 2024, having still yet to score for the club, Celar missed a penalty in a 1–1 draw with Stoke City. Having retained the support of manager Martí Cifuentes following the miss, he scored twice in the following match as QPR secured their second league win of the season.
Basel On 17 July 2026, Basel announced that they had signed Celar from Queens Park Rangers on a three-year contract until summer 2029. Eight days later, in the first round of the Super League season against Servette, he was in the starting eleven and scored the game-winning goal for Basel after converting the penalty kick, his first goal in official competitions after more than 600 days.
International career Between 2014 and 2021, Celar played for all Slovenian youth teams from under-16 to under-21, making 46 appearances for all teams combined and scoring 17 goals.
On 14 November 2021, Celar debuted for the senior team in a World Cup qualifying match against Cyprus.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMaribor2015–16PrvaLiga100000—10Roma2018–19Serie A100000—10Cittadella (loan)2019–20Serie B10132——133Cremonese (loan)2019–20Serie B112———1122020–21Serie B27220——292Total3842000—404Lugano2021–22Swiss Super League291054——34142022–23Swiss Super League30163010—34162023–24Swiss Super League36145671—4821Total9540131081—11651Queens Park Rangers2024–25EFL Championship19200—302222025–26EFL Championship2000—0020Total21200—30242Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)2025–262. Bundesliga7000——70Career total173471812813020260
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSlovenia202110202250202320202490202500202630Total200
Honours Lugano Swiss Cup: 2021–22
Individual Swiss Super League top scorer: 2023–24
References
External links