LOS ANGELES (Thursday, Aug., 5, 2021) – The LA Galaxy today announced that the club has acquired forward Dejan Joveljić from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. Joveljić, 21, will be signed to a four-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2025 MLS regular season and will occupy an MLS U22 Initiative roster spot. He will be added to the club’s roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
Joveljić joins the Galaxy having spent the 2020-21 campaign with Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberger AC, on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, where he tallied 20 goals and five assists in 46 games played (36 starts) across all competitions. Joveljić registered two goals in eight games played (5 starts) for Wolfsberg in the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League Group Stage.
“Dejan is an exciting, goal-scoring forward who is amongst the brightest talents in Europe,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese. “We are thrilled to welcome Dejan to Los Angeles and look forward to his contributions to the club.”
The Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, native joined Belgian side R.S.C. Anderlecht on Jan. 31, 2020, on loan from Frankfurt, during the 2019-20 Jupiler Pro League season and tallied one goal and one assist in five appearances (4 starts). In 10 appearances (5 starts) across all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt (2019-20), Joveljić tallied one goal.
The 21-year-old began his professional career with Serbian club Red Star Belgrade (2017-19), where he notched 14 goals and two assists in 28 games played (14 starts). With Red Star Belgrade, Joveljić helped the club claim back-to-back Serbian SuperLiga domestic titles (2017-18, 2018-19). Notably, Joveljić was named to the 40-man shortlist for the 2018 Golden Boy Award, which is awarded to the best young player in Europe under the age of 21. During Belgrade’s 2019 domestic cup run, Joveljić tallied three goals in five appearances.
At the international level, Joveljić has made two appearances for the Serbia Men’s National Team since starting and playing 90 minutes in his debut in a 1-1 draw against Jamaica on June 7, 2021. Joveljić most recently started and logged 90 minutes for Serbia in a 1-0 loss to Japan on July 11, 2021. The forward has made multiple appearances for Serbia at the youth level across various age groups, notably tallying a hat-trick against Estonia in UEFA European U-21 Championship Qualifying on Nov. 15, 2019.
Transaction: LA Galaxy acquire Dejan Joveljić from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt as an MLS U22 Initiative player and sign him to a four-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2025 MLS regular season on Aug. 5, 2021.
Dejan Joveljić
Pronunciation: day-YAHN YO-vul-EACH
Position: Forward
Jersey Number: 99
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Date Of Birth: Aug. 7, 1999
Age: 21
Birthplace: Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
Last Club: Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
Citizenship: Serbia
Acquired: Acquired from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt as an MLS U22 Initiative player and signed to a four-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2025 MLS regular season on Aug. 5, 2021.
