Dejan Joveljić

Dejan Joveljić (Serbian Cyrillic: Дејан Јовељић; born 7 August 1999) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy and the Serbia national team.

Dejan Joveljić
Personal information
Full name Dejan Joveljić[1]
Date of birth (1999-08-07) 7 August 1999[1]
Place of birth Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker[1]
Team information
Current team
 LA Galaxy
Number 9
Youth career
2010 Sloga United
2010–2018 Red Star Belgrade
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Red Star Belgrade 21 (11)
2019–2021 Eintracht Frankfurt 4 (0)
2020 → Anderlecht (loan) 5 (1)
2020–2021 → Wolfsberger AC (loan) 34 (18)
2021– LA Galaxy 77 (19)
International career‡
2014–2015 Serbia U16 14 (6)
2015–2016 Serbia U17 17 (11)
2015–2017 Serbia U18 6 (6)
2017–2018 Serbia U19 11 (4)
2017–2019 Serbia U21 12 (3)
2021– Serbia 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:10, 15 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:05, 20 June 2023 (UTC)

Club career

2016–17 season

Born in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Joveljić played with the local club Sloga Junajted, before he joined Serbian top tier club Red Star Belgrade in his early years.[2] After almost 7 years with the club, passing the whole youth categories,[3] Joveljić signed his first professional contract on 16 March 2016, along with several teammates.[4] Joveljić has joined the first team under coach Miodrag Božović in 2016, but failed to play official matches during the 2016–17 Serbian SuperLiga campaign due to mononucleosis he was diagnosed with in August 2016.[5] In the meantime, he was listed in top 60 youth footballers by The Guardian.[6] After he missed the rest of 2016 without training, Joveljić returned to the field in early 2017, playing with youth team until the end of a season.[7] He was also nominated as one of the competitors for the Golden Boy award in 2017.[8]

2017–18 season

In summer 2017, Joveljić presented as one of the club's top 10 youth prospects and passed the whole pre-season training with the first squad.[9] He became a regular member of the first team since the beginning of September 2017, after a furious period in the Serbian youth league. He has been named as the third choice striker behind Richmond Boakye and Aleksandar Pešić.[10] Later, on 19 September same year, Joveljić extended his contract with the club until 2021.[11] He spent his first time in protocol for a senior game sitting on the bench as an unused substitution for a match against Mladost Lučani on 22 October 2017.[12] He made his official debut for Red Star Belgrade on 10 December 2017, replacing Aleksandar Pešić in 70 minute of the Serbian SuperLiga match against Borac Čačak.[13] On 5 May 2018, Joveljić got his first time in starting lineup for a senior game, scoring a twice in 5–0 home victory over Spartak Subotica.[14] Finally, Joveljić scored in the last match of the season against Voždovac on 19 May 2018, for the first trophy in his professional career.[15]

2018–19 season

In summer 2018, after overgrown youth selection, which previously qualified to the 2018–19 UEFA Youth League,[16] Joveljić started new season as a fully senior.[17] Following the complete pre-season period he passed with the first team, Joveljić has been licensed for the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League qualifications.[18] Following both of matches against Spartaks Jūrmala in the first round he missed, Joveljić started an opening match of the 2018–19 Serbian SuperLiga, scoring in 3–0 victory over Dinamo Vranje on 20 July 2018.[19]

Eintracht Frankfurt

On 14 June 2019, Joveljić signed a deal with German side Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee of €4 million.[20]

Loan to Anderlecht

Joveljić joined Belgian club Anderlecht on loan until the end of the season on 31 January 2020.[21]

Loan to Wolfsberger

Joveljić spent the 2020-2021 season on loan at Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberger AC. He finished the season as the club’s top scorer.

LA Galaxy

On 5 August 2021, Joveljić signed a four-and-a-half year deal with MLS side LA Galaxy.[22] He signed as a U22 Initiative player.

International career

After games with Serbian under-16 & under-17 national teams, Joveljić made his debut for under-18 level on 15 December 2015 in a match against Ukraine.[23] Later he missed the whole 2016 due to injury and returned to the team scoring a goal in a match against Uzbekistan on 20 April 2017.[24] Playing for the team, Joveljić noted 6 goals on 6 matches, including games against Czech Republic and France when he scored a twice at each.[25][26] In August 2017, Joveljić was called into the Serbia U19 squad, when he made a debut at the memorial tournament "Stevan Vilotić – Ćele".[27] Scoring a twice in 3–1 victory over Israel, Joveljić contributed to winning a trophy, after which he was elected for the most prospective player on the tournament.[28] Joveljić got his first call in Serbian under-21 team by coach Goran Đorović in December 2017.[29] He made his debut for the team in away friendly against Qatar on 17 December 2017.[30] While with under-19 level, Joveljić also scored against Bulgaria and Sweden in March 2018, missing to qualify for the 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Serbia.[31][32]

He made his debut for Serbia national football team on 7 June 2021 in a friendly against Jamaica.[33]

Style of play

Joveljić is a 1.80 m tall striker, who usually operates as a centre forward, being capable of playing as a winger.[2] He has been started tracked during youth career and named as one of the most prospective players in academy, after which he joined the first team. Later he missed a period due to injury and a lack of weight, so he stayed out of the senior football since the 2016–17 campaign.[7] In his final season with youth team, Joveljić affirmed as a poacher and top goalscorer with several hat-tricks.[34] He was also compared with Argentine footballer Mauro Icardi[6] and a compatriot Luka Jović.[2] Joveljić uses both legs and he is also a good header and penalty taker.[35] Joveljić was named as a man of the match scoring three goals as a captain of the U19 squad in the youth Eternal Derby on 16 November 2017. He collected 33 goals in 14 appearances at total, during the first half-season in Serbian youth league.[36]

Personal life

Turning professionally and due to accumulated liabilities, Joveljić decided to pass private school in Novi Sad. Although he has lived alone in Belgrade, Joveljić accentuated his family as the best support in his life and career. Besides football, Joveljić likes to play billiard and chess, and he is also a Rubik's Cube enthusiast.[37] 39 seconds is his personal record.[35]

Career statistics

Club
As of end of 2022 MLS season[38]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Red Star Belgrade 2016–17 Serbian SuperLiga 0000——00
2017–18 430000—43
2018–19 178532[lower-alpha 2]0—2411
Total 21115320002814
Eintracht Frankfurt 2019–20 Bundesliga 40105[lower-alpha 3]1—101
Anderlecht (loan) 2019–20 Belgian First Division A 500000—50
Wolfsberger AC (loan) 2020–21 Austrian Bundesliga 34184082—4620
LA Galaxy 2021 MLS 14200——142
2022 341243—2[lower-alpha 4]14016
Total 48144300215418
Career total 112431461532114353
  1. Includes Serbian Cup, DFB-Pokal and U.S. Open Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs

International
As of 20 June 2023
Serbia
YearAppsGoals
202120
202200
202342
Total62

International goals
Scores and results list Serbia's goal tally first.
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.16 June 2023Franz Horr Stadium, Vienna, Austria5 Jordan2–23–2Friendly
2.3–2

Honours

Red Star Belgrade

References
  1. "Дејан Јовељић". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  2. "Upoznajte Dejana Joveljića: On nije špic koji traži dubinu! On je predator koji daje golove! (VIDEO)". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 5 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  3. "Јовељић: Циљ ми је да дуже од Јовића останем у Звезди и да играм у Лиги шампиона". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 4 April 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  4. "U jednom danu na Marakani potpisano 16 ugovora". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 10 March 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  5. "Талентовани нападач Звезде оболео од мононуклеозе". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 12 August 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  6. ""Гардијан" направио листу од 60 најталентованијих младих играча: Јовељић српски Икарди". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 5 October 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  7. "Dejan Joveljić za BUTASPORT.RS: Vratiću se još jači!". butasport.rs (in Serbian). 15 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  8. "Bijeljinac, Dejan Joveljić, kandidat za nagradu "Zlatni dečak"!". BN Televizija (in Serbian). 6 April 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  9. "ALO! PREDSTAVLJA Top 10 Zvezdinih klinaca za budućnost". Alo! (in Serbian). 31 May 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  10. "Joveljić prekomandovan u seniore: Talentovani omladinac pojačao konkurenciju u napadu Zvezde". RTV BK Telecom (in Serbian). 5 September 2017. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  11. "Дејан Јовељић продужио уговор!". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 19 September 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  12. "Црвена звезда – Младост 2:1(2:0)". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 22 October 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  13. "Debi Joveljića! Prvo Zvezdino pojačanje za 2018. godinu..." mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 10 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  14. "Црвена звезда – Спартак 4:0 (3:0)". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 5 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  15. "KRAJ: Crvena zvezda – Voždovac 5:1 (VIDEO)". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  16. "Zvezda u Ligi šampiona, trener napustio klub". mondo.rs (in Serbian). 5 June 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  17. "Zvezda krenula u novu sezonu sa Melegom! Nema Milijaša". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 11 June 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  18. "Ovo je Zvezdina formula za pobedu! Taktika koja vodi u LŠ". beogradskiportal.rs (in Serbian). 7 July 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  19. "Za ovo se živi! Zvezdin tandem koji će klubu doneti milione, oduševio za navijače na startu nove sezone (FOTO) (VIDEO)". telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 21 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  20. "Neuzugang bei der Eintracht: Dejan Joveljic wird ein Adlerträger". Eintracht Frankfurt (in German). 14 June 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  21. "Joveljic zum RSC Anderlecht verliehen". Eintracht.de (in German). Eintracht Frankfurt. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  22. "LA Galaxy acquire Serbian International forward Dejan Joveljić from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt | LA Galaxy".
  23. "У-18: Србијa – Укрaјинa 1:2 (0:0)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 15 December 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  24. "Mlađi omladinci bolji od Uzbekistana". fudbal.info (in Serbian). 20 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. "Mlađi omladinaci reprezentacije Srbije pobedili Češku (FOTO)". zerobetportal.com (in Serbian). 18 May 2017. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  26. "Mlađi omladinci Srbije deklasirali vršnjake iz Francuske". sportskacentrala.com (in Serbian). 3 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  27. "Милош Велебит одабрао најбоље омладинце Србије за турнир "Стеван Ћеле Вилотић"". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 24 August 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  28. "Генерација која много обећава тријумфовала на турниру "Стеван Ћеле Вилотић", савладан Израел 3:1 (1:0)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 4 September 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  29. "Ђоровићев списак за Катар: Играчи из Бајерн Минхена, вечитих ривала, чак и омладинац Јовељић!". Sportski žurnal (in Serbian). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  30. "Никад млађа селекција Србије до 21 године славила у Дохи против Катара -2:1(1:1)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 17 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  31. "Омладинци бољи од Бугарске у Благоевграду у првој од две провере пред наставак квалификација за ЕП-1:0 (1:0)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 6 March 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  32. "Луда утакмица и частан опроштај омладинаца, савладана Шведска -3:2 (2:0)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 27 March 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  33. "Serbia v Jamaica game report". Eurosport. 7 June 2021.
  34. "OMLADINSKA LIGA: Nova goleada Zvezde i novi het-trik Joveljića". hotsport.rs (in Serbian). 9 September 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  35. "(VIDEO) ZVEZDA IMA GENIJA! Dejan Joveljić rešeta levom, desnom, glavom, igra šah kao velemajstor..." Informer (in Serbian). 25 September 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  36. "NEZAUSTAVLJIVI KLINAC Ovako igra Zvezdin špic Dejan Joveljić, strelac 33 gola ove jeseni /VIDEO/". Blic (in Serbian). 3 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  37. "Упознајте Дејана Јовељића". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  38. Dejan Joveljić at Soccerway
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