FK Liepāja has officially loaned 17-year-old striker Marks Pačepko to BFC Daugavpils, last season’s fifth-place finisher in the Latvian Virslīga. This move will see the young forward play his debut season in the top flight with a team that is set to make its first-ever appearance in European competition.
Pačepko is a product of the AFA Olaine academy and has previously played exclusively for the club in the Nākotnes Līga. Over the past three seasons, he has shown consistent development, scoring 3 goals in 19 matches in 2022, 5 goals in 17 matches in 2023, and having a breakout year in 2024, netting 19 goals in 24 games.
At the international level, the young forward has represented Latvia’s U17 national team, making 8 appearances and scoring one goal – a decisive strike in a 1-0 victory against Turkey.
BFC Daugavpils secured its historic European qualification in dramatic fashion, clinching fifth place in the final match of the 2024 Virslīga season. Despite operating on a significantly smaller budget than FK Liepāja, the club outperformed them in the standings. However, their UEFA Conference League qualification came as a result of Valmiera FC’s licensing issues, which prevented them from competing in the top tier. Theoretically, BFC Daugavpils must still obtain the necessary Eurocup license to confirm their participation in the qualifiers. Now, with Pačepko in their ranks, Daugavpils will look to strengthen its attacking options as they prepare for this unprecedented opportunity.