Player Talent Scout: Dejan Joveljić

The 20-man shortlist for the 2019 Golden Boy was announced on Tuesday, and one of the more obscure names on the list was 20 year-old Serbian striker Dejan Joveljić.

Joveljić joined Crvena Zvezda’s youth team at the age of 10, and progressed through the ranks before making his first team debut as a substitute in 2017, at the age of 18. He scored twice on his first start, and followed that up with another goal on the final day of the season against Vozdovac as his club were crowned Serbian Champions.

Joveljić continued his improvement the following season, scoring 8 goals in 17 appearances as Red Star retained the Serbian title. This earned a move to Bundesliga giants Eintracht Frankfurt for €4 million as a replacement for another former Crvena Zvezda striker, Luka Jović.

Joveljić has often been compared to Jović; both were born in Bijeljina, and they both have the same impressive movement and eye for goal. Eintracht Frankfurt will be hoping Joveljić can have a similar impact to his compatriot, who’s goalscoring exploits for Die Adler saw them make an incredible €55 million profit when they sold him to Real Madrid in the summer.

Joveljić is your typical poacher, capable of scoring with both feet and his head, earning comparisons with one of the world’s best finishers, Mauro Icardi. Comfortable playing as a central striker or as a winger, Joveljić will be hoping to force his way into Eintracht’s team in the near future, and they will be hoping he can become the next Serbian striker to make the club a tidy profit.