The chess-playing striker making history in Major League Soccer
In short: Dejan Joveljić is a rare breed of athlete. While most strikers focus solely on the pitch, this Serbian forward possesses a FIDE chess rating of over 2200. From overcoming mononucleosis to orchestrating the first-ever cash-for-player trade in MLS history, his career is a masterclass in precision.
Born in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Joveljić’s ascent was nearly derailed early on. After signing his first professional contract with Red Star Belgrade on 16 March 2016, a diagnosis of mononucleosis in August 2016 sidelined him for the entire season. Despite this setback, his talent was evident; he was listed by The Guardian as one of the top 60 youth footballers in the world and was a 2017 Golden Boy award nominee. He eventually joined the first team under coach Miodrag Božović. During his time in the youth categories, he was also recognised as one of the club's top ten prospects.
His professional breakthrough came through a prolific stint in the Serbian youth league, where he netted 33 goals in just 14 appearances during the first half of the 2017 season. This clinical finishing earned him a move to Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt in June 2019 for €4 million. After stints in Belgium and Austria, where he finished the 2020–21 season as Wolfsberger AC's top scorer, he transitioned to the United States.
Joveljić has become a transformative figure in Major League Soccer. A $4 million three-year designated player deal was signed by him with Sporting Kansas City on 1 February 2025, representing the league's inaugural cash-for-player trade. By August 2026, he moved to Seattle Sounders FC for $6 million, becoming only the second player in club history to score twice on his debut, a feat previously achieved by Fredy Montero in 2009. During his time in the United States, he secured a victory in El Tráfico by scoring a brace. He has also represented the Serbian national team since his debut against Jamaica in 2021.
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