Transfers
MERCATO
OFFICIEL
Joveljić Heads to Seattle in Attacking Reinforcement Swap with Sporting KC
Serbia international forward Dejan Joveljić completes a transfer from Sporting Kansas City to Seattle Sounders, bolstering a Sounders attack that will welcome a proven MLS goalscorer.
Dejan Joveljić has completed a transfer from Sporting Kansas City to Seattle Sounders, adding a proven MLS goalscorer to the Western Conference side. The Serbia international arrives after a productive spell in Kansas City, where he finished the 2025 season among the conference's more consistent finishers. Joveljić signs as a forward and will wear the number 9, a nod to the traditional striking role he has occupied throughout his MLS tenure.
At a glance
- Age 26, position: Attacker, number 9
- Move: Transfer from Sporting Kansas City to Seattle Sounders on 2026-08-26
- 2025 MLS season: 18 goals, 2 assists in 32 appearances (2,772 minutes), rating 7.17
Career context
Joveljić's route to MLS was anything but direct, and his path reads like a modern development story spanning Europe and North America. He began his senior career in his native Serbia with FK Crvena Zvezda before a €4M move to Eintracht Frankfurt in July 2019. The Bundesliga switch did not yield regular minutes, so he headed out on loan first to Anderlecht in January 2020 and then to Wolfsberger AC in August 2020 — a six-month spell that gave him consistent game time in Austria.
Frankfurt offloaded him permanently to Los Angeles Galaxy in July 2021, and Joveljić spent four seasons in California. He won MLS Cup with LA Galaxy in 2024, a campaign that also saw him establish himself as a reliable penalty-box presence. A pair of transfer-window moves in January and February 2025 — both to Sporting Kansas City — reunited him with a familiar MLS environment, and he responded with a career-high 18-goal season in 2025.
Along the way, he collected domestic silverware in Serbia, adding two Super Liga titles (2017/18 and 2018/19) and a Serbian Cup winners' medal from that same 2018/19 double. A hamstring injury in mid-2024 briefly interrupted his rhythm, but he returned to full fitness and form by the following spring.
How he fits at his new club
Seattle Sounders play in a system that has historically valued a target-man presence up front, and Joveljić's profile aligns with that need. Listed at 181 cm and 75 kg, he offers a physical frame that complements his movement, and his 2025 numbers show he thrives in and around the box rather than drifting wide. His API-Football attributes back this up: an attack rating of 100, the highest possible mark, and a duels rating of 67 suggest he wins his fair share of aerial and ground challenges.
Tactically, Joveljić's strength lies in his finishing volume. He averaged a shot every 44 minutes in 2025, with 60 of his 79 shots finding the target — a 76% accuracy rate that speaks to both placement and composure. His eight successful penalties (against two misses) further underline his reliability from 12 yards, a trait that will be especially valuable in tightly contested MLS matches.
His creation rating of 53 is modest, suggesting he is not a playmaker first, but his four key passes per 90 minutes and his willingness to drop slightly deeper — evidenced by 702 total passes in 2025 — indicate he can link play when required. This duality makes him a flexible option for a Sounders side that has oscillated between direct and possession-based approaches.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
Recent numbers
Joveljić's 2025 season was defined by volume and consistency. Across all competitions, he registered 34 appearances and 2,892 minutes, starting 33 of those matches. His 18 goals came at a rate of one every 161 minutes, and his three assists show he contributed to build-up as well as finishes.
Breaking it down by competition:
- Major League Soccer: 32 apps, 31 starts, 2,772 mins, 18 goals, 2 assists, rating 7.17
- CONCACAF Champions League: 2 apps, 2 starts, 120 mins, 0 goals, 0 assists, rating 6.30
His disciplinary record was clean in terms of red cards, though he picked up four yellows across the season. On the ball, he completed 17 of 46 successful dribbles (36%) and won 111 of 272 duels (39%), showing he is willing to engage physically. His 40 fouls drawn indicate defenders were often forced to make contact with him, and his 21 tackles and 35 total tackles across all comps suggest he contributes defensively without overcommitting.
Per 90 minutes, his numbers translate to roughly 0.57 goals and 0.10 assists, figures that place him in the upper tier of MLS strikers who played 2,000+ minutes in 2025.
Key takeaways
| Metric | Joveljić (2025) | League context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals per 90 | 0.57 | Above average for regular forwards |
| Shot accuracy | 76% | Among top 10 MLS finishers |
| Duels won % | 39% | Solid for a forward |
| Penalty conversion | 80% (8/10) | Reliable from the spot |
- Proven finisher: 18 goals in 32 MLS starts demonstrates consistent end product.
- Durable option: 2,772 minutes in 2025 shows reliability when fit.
- Physical presence: 181 cm frame and 167 duels won indicate comfort in aerial and ground battles.
- Set-piece reliability: 8 of 10 penalties converted adds stability in high-pressure moments.
- Tactical fit: Attack attribute of 100 and high shot accuracy suit Seattle's need for a focal point.
Joveljić enters a competitive forward picture in Seattle but arrives with the kind of track record that demands attention. His move from Kansas City — where he spent just over a year after arriving from LA Galaxy — represents a chance to reset and lead a new chapter for a Sounders attack that will hope his 2025 form translates directly to the Pacific Northwest.