Bogert: Sporting KC “nearing a deal” for Galaxy Striker Joveljic

After a very quiet offseason for Sporting Kansas City, the rumor mill has swung into full swing, mostly fueled by GiveMeSport’s Tom Bogert (seriously, follow Tom on BlueSky or Twitter). Today, Tommy Scoops dropped a bomb that Sporting KC are “nearing a deal” with the LA Galaxy to acquire striker Dejan Joveljic.

🇷🇸🔵 BREAKING: Sporting KC are nearing a deal to sign Serbia int'l forward Dejan Joveljic from LA Galaxy, per sources.Deal will be around $4m fee. Cash, not GAM. Could be 1st deal done with new rule.Joveljic goes to SKC instead of Tigres.www.givemesport.com/sporting-kc-…

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-01-31T18:58:10.688Z

Bogert is reporting that the deal will be for around $4 million in cash, not General Allocation Money. That’s around the same number that the Galaxy paid for Joveljic back in 2021 when they got him from Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany). Transfermarkt estimated Dejan’s value is around €6.5 million.

The 25-year-old Serbian international had a breakout year in 2024 for the Galaxy who ultimately won MLS Cup. He had 21 goals and seven assists over 33 appearances, including the playoffs where he was clutch with eight goal contributions (six goals, two assists).

That was Joveljic’s fourth season in MLS. He joined at just 21-years-old under the U-22 Initiative, but he didn’t become a regular starter until the 2023 season as he was behind Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez before then. In regular season play he has 34 goals and 13 assists for the Galaxy in 5,276 league minutes. That’s 0.80 goal contributions every 90 minutes.

The question will be, can Sporting KC get him the ball? The Galaxy added two Designated Player wingers last season in Joseph Paintsil and Gabrielle Pec ahead of 2024.

Surprise Move

The move may come as a surprise since Joveljic is either in his prime or headed towards it at 25, and coming off a great season. Bogert reports that the LA Galaxy absolutely wanted to keep him but he’s in a contract year and they have no way to fit him into their budget beyond this season.

Joveljic also plays where William Agada does on the field at striker. Neither player really plays on the wing (nor does Mason Toye), but this is in line with what Mike Burns said after Alan Pulido departed. They weren’t going to rule out adding another #9. No word yet if Agada’s preseason injury is worse than we previously thought and if that expedited this situation.

Bogert and his Soccerwise co-host David Gass even said if the Galaxy were selling Joveljic to Liga MX club Tigres, which was the earlier rumor, that SKC should come make an offer. Maybe Mike Burns listens to Soccerwise or Tom already knew something.

Budget Fit

If the deal is actually for cash and not GAM, it will be the first move of its type in MLS history. The league just instituted a new rule allowing teams to sell players internally for cash. There are other rumors swirling around the league for Portland Timbers midfielder Evander and FC Cincinnati midfielder Lucho Acosta. Mostly these moves seem to be for DP level players.

If this move goes through for KC at the rumored $4 million, that will make Joveljic a Designated Player. In 2024 he had a salary of $683,750, which was the max budget charge in 2024. With him entering the final year of his deal, almost certainly he would sign a new contract and be looking for a substantial raise. Plus, the Galaxy said they couldn’t afford to pay Dejan what he is worth, so a raise is certainly due.

If KC sign Joveljic and rumored attacking midfielder Manu Garcia, the team would then have two true DPs and the ability to either add a third or add two more U-22 Initiative players.

Sporting KC’s slow start seems to be picking up steam. And it’s just in time as CONCACAF Champions Cup play begins February 18th against Inter Miami and the MLS season starts a few days later.