Watch: Birkirkara sign Montenegrin defender Jovan Pajovic

Birkirkara have further strengthened their squad with the signing of Montenegrin defender Jovan Pajovic, the Times of Malta can confirm.

The Stripes are finalising their preparations ahead of next week’s UEFA Conference League first qualifying tie against Slovenian side NK Maribor.

Birkirkara have managed to keep the majority of the overseas players that were on their books last season, particularly in defence, and have further bolstered their backline with the signing of Montenegrin Pajovic.

The 26-year-old spent his football career in his homeland as after donning the colours of FK Berane and Mornar Bar he moved to FK Podgorica.

He returned to Mornar Bar in 2022 where he made 33 appearances and scored six goals.

Pajovic is a highly-physical defender who will further add more muscle to Birkirkara’s defence.

Coach Giovanni Tedesco has also seen his preparations for their match in Slovenia further boosted by the return to full fitness of two key defenders, Alessandro Coppola and Enrico Pepe.

Coppola missed the final few matches of the 2022-23 season due to a foot injury but has now recovered full fitness and has started pre-season with his team-mates.

Pepe too was forced to sit out of Birkirkara’s FA Trophy final victory over Marsaxlokk due to a knee injury and was also ruled out of the national teams’ international commitments in June as he stepped up his rehabilitation.

But now the Italian-born defender is raring to go and is set to play a key role for the Stripes in their European adventure this summer.