​Queens Park Rangers striker Zan Celar has completed a transfer to Basel for an undisclosed fee. The 27-year-old forward joined the Hoops from Swiss Super League outfit Lugano in 2024, having previously represented Slovenia at Euro 2024 in Germany, where he earned three caps. Celar went on to make 23 appearances for QPR during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring twice, including a decisive goal in a win at Cardiff. His season was interrupted by a hamstring injury, and in the previous campaign he spent time on loan with Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga.
QPR chief executive officer Christian Nourry spoke to the club’s official site about Celar’s journey. He acknowledged that Celar faced a steep adjustment when moving to English football, noting the hard work he put in to settle into the league. Nourry added that while Celar was keen to secure a platform in Germany to showcase his talents, he did not manage to secure the required minutes on the pitch last season. The move to Basel marks a return to a well-regarded Swiss club for Celar, and it brings him back to a league where he previously finished as the top scorer a couple of years ago.
This development comes as part of a broader update for QPR, reflecting ongoing changes in their squad as they continue to navigate a competitive season. Celar’s departure leaves the club with a forward option who has experience across multiple European leagues, including a notable stint in Switzerland and exposure to German football, together with international caps for Slovenia. Basel’s acquisition of Celar adds a potentially valuable attacking option for the Swiss side, who will be hoping he can reproduce or build upon the form that saw him as a standout scorer in the recent past.
As the football world continues to follow Queens Park Rangers’ moves in the transfer market, Celar’s switch to Basel will be watched with interest by fans and analysts alike. The transfer underscores the ever-evolving nature of squad construction in modern football, where players move across leagues and countries in pursuit of playing time, development opportunities, and the chance to contribute to a club’s ambitions. With Celar now in Basel, both clubs—QPR and Basel—look to reap the outcomes of this agreed transfer, while Celar himself faces the next chapter in his professional career in Swiss football.