NK Celje have added another Baltic prospect to their organization, this time recruiting in Latvia by signing young striker Valters Lūsis from the FS Jelgava academy.
The 17-year-old forward made his debut for Latvia’s U-17 national team last year and is considered one of the promising talents to emerge from Jelgava’s youth system. Last season Lūsis split his time between the club’s U-17 and U-19 squads.
In the top U-19 youth league he made seven appearances and scored once as Jelgava’s U-19 side went on to win the championship. At U-17 level he was far more prolific, scoring eight goals in 14 matches.
Lūsis is far from the only Baltic player within the Celje system. The Slovenian club already features several representatives from the region in its first team. Lithuanian international striker Armandas Kučys has become one of the club’s standout performers, while defender Artemijus Tutyškinas has also played an important role in the squad.
Just a few days ago, Celje also registered another Baltic youth prospect – 17-year-old Lithuanian defender Kristupas Algirdas Padegimas, who, like Lūsis, will initially begin his development in the club’s academy structure.
Source: https://www.nzs.si/Doc/Info/Registracijski%20zapisnik_21_2026.pdf
