Seattle – The Seattle Sounders announced Tuesday that they have acquired Serbian international forward Dejan Joveljic as a designated player from Sporting Kansas City. The club paid $6 million in the trade and promptly signed Joveljic to a four‑year contract that runs through June 2030, with a club option extending to June 2031.
Deal details and roster moves
In order to make room under the salary cap, midfielder Albert Rusnak restructured his existing agreement, allowing the Sounders to bring Joveljic into the roster. General manager Craig Waibel praised the signing, saying, “We’re thrilled to add a player of Dejan’s caliber to our group. He is a proven goal scorer in the prime of his career with a track record of producing at a high level and delivering in big moments.”
Head coach Brian Schmetzer echoed the enthusiasm, noting, “Dejan is a tremendous addition to our attack. He’s dangerous in and around the box, can score in a variety of ways and gives us another dynamic presence in the final third.”
Joveljic’s résumé
Joveljic, 27, comes to Seattle after a productive stint in MLS. He helped the Los Angeles Galaxy win the MLS Cup in 2024, scoring 21 goals in 33 matches that season. After that championship run, he was traded to Sporting Kansas City for $4 million, where he added 26 goals in 52 appearances, including a career‑best 18 goals in 32 regular‑season matches last year. This season he has already recorded eight goals and three assists.
What the signing means for Seattle
The Sounders have struggled offensively this year, managing only 22 goals in 20 matches. Injuries have taken a toll on key attackers, including Jordan Morris (quad), Jesus Ferreira (hamstring) and Cristian Roldan (quad). Adding Joveljic provides an immediate boost and a long‑term building block as the club looks to return to the top of the Western Conference.
Sporting Kansas City, the only MLS team with fewer goals this season, will part with their leading scorer as they continue a rebuilding phase. The trade underscores Seattle’s commitment to fielding a competitive roster that can contend for the MLS Cup.
Looking ahead
With Joveljic now in the lineup, the Sounders will aim to improve their goal production as the season progresses. Fans can expect to see the Serbian forward featured prominently in the club’s attacking schemes, and his experience in high‑pressure matches should help Seattle navigate the challenges ahead.
Seattle Sounders fans can look forward to seeing Joveljic in action at Lumen Field, where his arrival is expected to energize the home crowd and bring renewed optimism to a team eager to reclaim its place among MLS’s elite.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
