Shaun Bajada is making a comeback to the BOV Premier League after completing his return to Birkirkara on a one-year deal.
The experienced midfielder has been training with Birkirkara for the past three weeks with a view to securing a contract after deciding to return to Maltese football following a one-year stint in Gozo.
“Birkirkara FC continued their recruitment drive during the 2016 transfer market when they completed their third signing.
“Technical midfielder Shaun Bajada joined our club for his second spell when, just a few moments ago, he signed a one-year contract,”Birkirkara said on their official website yesterday.
After ending his three-year spell with Valletta last summer, Bajada opted to continue his career in his native Gozo after accepting an offer to become the player-coach of Għajnsielem.
Under Bajada, Għajnsielem won the GFA title after beating rivals Xewkija Tigers 3-2 in a nailbiting decider last month.
Bajada, 33 in August, is familiar with the environment at Birkirkara as he spent five years with the club between 2007 and 2012. In his first stint with the Stripes, Bajada was widely regarded as one of their most influential players as he helped the team to win the BOV Premier League title in 2009/10.
Bajada earned further recognition for his contribution that season as he was named Malta FA footballer of the year in the summer of 2010.
Europa League trip
Capped 34 times by Malta, Bajada, who had other offers, is travelling to Bosnia & Herzegovina today to join up with the rest of the Birkirkara squad ahead of the first leg of their Europa League first qualifying round tie against NK Siroki Brijeg on Thursday.
Birkirkara have confirmed that Bajada has been included in the list of players submitted to UEFA for their Europa League commitments against Siroki.
Bajada is Birkirkara’s second Maltese signing this summer after they secured the services of young goalkeeper Andreas Vella from Qormi.
Serbian duo Predrag Jovic and Srdjan Dimitrov have also joined Birkirkara in the close season.