The LA Galaxy completed the signing of 21-year-old Dejan Joveljić as they deepen their offensive talent.
CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy have completed the signing of 21-year-old Dejan Joveljić from German side Eintracht Frankfurt, the club announced on Thursday.
The signing wraps up a period of weeks where Joveljić had been rumored to be coming to Los Angeles and should put a rather significant bow on the Galaxy’s busy acquisition season in 2021. The MLS transfer window closes at the day’s end.
The U-22 designation is an important one. It means the Galaxy can spend an unlimited amount of money on acquisition fees for a relatively small cap hit – somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000. But that also means that Joveljić can’t make more in annual salary than the max budget charge ($612,500 for the 2021 season).
The 4.5-year contract puts Joveljić in a Galaxy uniform through the 2025 season.
“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.”
Reports coming from Serbian media put Jovljić’s transfer fee at around $4.2-million, which would make him the 5th most expensive signing in Galaxy history.
At Frankfurt Joveljić was loaned out to Austrian Bundesliga’s Wolfsberger AC. He scored 20 goals and tallied five assists in 46 games during the 2020-21 season.
Joveljić began his professional career with Red Star Belgrade of Serbia, where he scored 15 goals and had two assists in 28 games. But most notably, he was named to a 40-man shortlist for the 2018 Golden boy Award. That award is given to the best young player in Europe under the age of 21.
He has had two appearances for the Serbia Men’s National Team since his debut against Jamaica on June 7, 2021. He was most recently called in for a friendly against Japan on July 11, 2021. During that match, he played the full 90 minutes.
Joveljic will wear the number 99 for the Galaxy – just the second-ever 99 to play for the club – and will occupy an International Slot. He’ll be added to the Galaxy roster pending his ITC and P-1 Visa.
He’s expected to be part of either a two-man front line alongside Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez or fill in for him when the often injured striker can’t make an appearance. And while the Galaxy have one of the top-five best offenses in the league, even with Chicharito’s absence, getting more from their strikers seems to be a focus. Especially when that comes to playing youngster Kevin Cabral at his preferred right-wing position instead of in the center of the formation.
A source within the club is hopeful that Joveljic’s visa process will be more abbreviated than the previous 2021 transfers. He could be available and training with the team by next week.
Additionally, the Galaxy seem to be working on one more signing before the transfer window slams shut on Thursday night. But with time running out there may not be enough time to close out the deal.
Additional information was added to this article at 3:40 PM to talk about the potential of one more signing.