Opinion: Why moving on from Dejan Joveljic this winter works out

The idea of moving on from the Serbian striker makes some sense when you dive into it

Photo Credit: LA Galaxy

Following the LA Galaxy’s 2-0 win over Atlanta United in July 2022, striker Dejan Joveljic called himself the "future of Galaxy”. He played the role of super sub in that match and scored in the game's final minutes to secure all three points. Now in September 2023, his future with the Galaxy is being questioned for the first time since his arrival in LA.

On Tuesday afternoon, journalist Fabrizio Romano reported interest from Turkish side Trabzonspor for Joveljic. The Galaxy rejected the offer but the Serbian striker accepted according to Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu.

The Galaxy signed Joveljic from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported $3.5 million during the 2021 secondary transfer window. He was one of the top Serbian attacking talents and scored 17 goals during his loan spell in the Austrian Bundesliga. He was signed under the U22 initiative through the end of the 2025 season.

In 2023, he’s struggling on the pitch and not having an impact despite the team only losing one of their last 11 games. This news made me ponder what’s the best decision for the Galaxy and for Joveljic. Turns out, moving on may be what’s best for both parties.

What’s happened?

When examining the 2023 season, one thing is clear. Joveljic’s finishing has regressed as he’s among the worst finishers in the league.

Non-penalty G-xG is a great way to show if a player's shooting boots are missing or if their finishing is elite. A higher number means they are finishing chances and at times executing at a higher degree. If you’re in the negative numbers, it means you're not able to put away your chances consistently.

Joveljic’s score in this metric is -3.8, the third-lowest tally in the league. Among players on the active LA Galaxy roster (players out due to season-ending injuries not included), Preston Judd has the second-worst tally with -1. Both Joveljic and Judd have three goals scored in MLS play this season.

This regression is likely due to confidence in front of the net. Joveljic is a highly skilled player with some high-degree finishes, Take a look at his goal during last season’s playoff match against LAFC - a shot in the upper 90 to tie the game in the final 10 minutes. He’s not a tap-in merchant or plays solely as a poacher. He’s just never been “the guy” when called up to start games.

During his opportunity to be a starter, the Serbian isn’t part of many wins with the Galaxy. In his 29 games in the team’s initial XI, he’s scored seven goals and holds a record of 6W-7D-16L That’s a win percentage of 27.2% for the Galaxy during that span.

In a year where he’s become the starting 9 for the Galaxy, he hasn’t taken this opportunity by the reigns. His form as a super sub isn’t translating when he starts and leaves little imprint on the game.

Advancing his career

Young European players coming to MLS aim to build their stock and return across the pond. Europe is where the top level of football is played and all players want be compete against the best.

Joveljic spent his first year and a half at the Galaxy as a backup striker. It’s not his ideal role but he developed his goal-scoring instinct as the Galaxy’s super sub. During the 2022 campaign, he scored nine goals off the bench.

Despite not being a regular starter, the Serbian national team had his eyes on him. He was called up for the national team in January and June of this year. This a huge deal considering strikers Dušan Vlahović and Aleksandar Mitrović have become the set striker duo for Serbia and Joveljic was able to break through into the team.

At 24 years old, his window to return to Europe is shrinking. As I said earlier, all players aim to play against the best teams and players. Moving back to Europe is also key to remaining in the sights of the national team. Not only is he playing at a higher level but also playing closer to home.

Take Đorđe Petrović for example. The former New England Revolution goalkeeper took a similar path to Joveljic by coming to MLS in 2022 and recently moved to Chelsea during this summer transfer window. Petrović is advancing his career by moving to the Premier League and he now looks to be a key part of the national team for years to come.

From Joveljic’s perspective, returning to Europe within the next six months will be a big boost for his career. He’ll play at the higher level and will have the chance to showcase himself in the Turkish League. Getting stuck in MLS will not help his chances to break into the national team and improve his game overall.

Eyeing 2024

There is no doubt that the offseason will bring major changes to the LA Galaxy. Designated Players Douglas Costa and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez's contracts are set to expire this winter.

With two DP spots open, one area the Galaxy could look to strengthen is the striker position. If Joveljic’s poor performances continue, his future with the club will likely be assessed for the first time since he joined back in 2021.

If LA does move on from the Serbian, it will mean a U22 roster spot will open. The Galaxy could use this to get another young promising player without limit on the transfer fee. It’s what makes the U22 spot so valuable - you can get a young player for any price and they have a lower hit on the cap.

The Galaxy will go all in for 2024 to maximize their promising backline, Riqui Puig, and start a season fresh with fewer off-the-field distractions. Sorting out their striker problems will be top on the list for the front office to assess this winter.

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