Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Siara Costa
Amar Sejdic is an American professional soccer midfielder of Bosnian heritage who plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. Born on November 29, 1996, in Berlin, Germany, Sejdic spent most of his childhood in Louisville, Kentucky, after his parents moved the family to the United States when he was four years old.
Sejdic’s family story is closely connected with the Bosnian War and the experience of rebuilding a life in a new country. His parents, Rizah and Elvira Sejdic, both left Bosnia and Herzegovina because of the conflict, met while living as refugees in Germany and later chose to start another new chapter in the United States. Amar has repeatedly spoken with appreciation about the opportunities their sacrifices created for him.
Amar Sejdic’s Girlfriend or Wife
Amar Sejdic keeps his romantic life largely private. As of now, there is no reliable public source identifying a current girlfriend or confirming that he is married.
Official biographies from the University of Maryland and his MLS clubs focus on his parents, background and soccer career rather than his dating life.
When Columbus Crew signed Sejdic in 2025, the club said it was excited to welcome him and his family to Columbus. However, that general wording does not establish whether he has a wife or long-term partner, and the club did not identify any partner by name.
For that reason, claims about a girlfriend or wife should not be treated as fact unless Sejdic publicly confirms the relationship himself or a dependable source reports it.
Does Amar Sejdic Have Children?
As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that Amar Sejdic has children.
Neither his official college biography nor established interviews about his upbringing identify him as a father. Columbus Crew’s references to his “family” also do not specify children.
Sejdic appears to maintain a clear distinction between his professional soccer career and the more private areas of his personal life.
Amar Sejdic’s Parents
Amar Sejdic’s parents are Rizah Sejdic and Elvira Sejdic. Their names are confirmed by the University of Maryland, where Amar played college soccer from 2015 to 2018.
Both of his parents are originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Rizah grew up near Modrica, while Elvira is from Derventa.
Their lives were dramatically affected by the Bosnian War. Both left their homeland and eventually reached Germany as refugees, where they met in the early 1990s.
Amar was born in Berlin in 1996. A few years later, his parents decided to leave Europe and move to the United States in search of greater stability and opportunities for their son.
Amar Sejdic’s Father: Rizah Sejdic
Amar Sejdic’s father is Rizah Sejdic. He is originally from Jakes, near Modrica in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Rizah left Bosnia during the war and went to Germany, where he met Elvira. Their son Amar was subsequently born in Berlin.
Rizah later explained that the family’s decision to move again, this time from Germany to the United States, was centered largely on giving Amar greater opportunities for his future.
The family eventually settled in Louisville, Kentucky, where a sizeable Bosnian community was already developing.
Rizah Sejdic’s Role in Amar’s Soccer Career
Rizah was directly involved in Amar’s early soccer development.
When Amar was young, his father was involved with United 1996 FC, the Louisville youth club where Amar began playing organized soccer. Contemporary Bosnian-American reporting identified Rizah as one of the coaches associated with the club.
Amar began playing there at around five or six years old and quickly stood out, frequently competing against players older than himself.
By the age of 14, Amar had earned an invitation to a United States youth national-team camp, an early indication that the years of youth development in Louisville were beginning to produce significant opportunities.
Rizah Sejdic’s Business in Louisville
After rebuilding his life in Kentucky, Rizah also became a businessman within Louisville’s Bosnian community.
Recent reporting identifies him as the owner of BH International Market, a Louisville store specializing in Bosnian and Balkan foods.
The business reflects the strong cultural ties the Sejdic family maintained after moving to the United States. Foods and traditions from Bosnia remained part of Amar’s upbringing even though he spent nearly his entire childhood in America.
Amar Sejdic’s Mother: Elvira Sejdic
Amar Sejdic’s mother is Elvira Sejdic. She is originally from Derventa, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Like Rizah, Elvira was displaced by the Bosnian War and fled to Germany. It was there that she met Amar’s father.
After Amar was born, Elvira and Rizah faced another significant decision when they chose to leave Germany for the United States.
Sejdic has explained that his parents made that choice because they wanted him to have the chance to build a better future.
Although Elvira has maintained a lower public profile than Rizah, Amar’s University of Maryland biography directly identifies her as his mother, while later reporting confirms her origins in Derventa and her refugee journey to Germany.
Why Amar Sejdic’s Parents Moved to the United States
The Sejdic family arrived in the United States when Amar was approximately four years old.
According to Amar, his parents had heard positive things about Louisville from other Bosnian refugees they knew while living in Germany. The city offered relatively affordable living costs, employment opportunities and an established Bosnian community.
Those factors convinced Rizah and Elvira that Kentucky could provide the stable environment they wanted for their young son.
Amar later described the decision as one his parents essentially made for him, allowing him opportunities they believed would have been harder to obtain otherwise.
The Sejdic Family’s Bosnian Community in Louisville
The family did not arrive in Louisville completely isolated.
A large Bosnian refugee community developed in the city during the 1990s and early 2000s, and several members of Amar’s extended family lived nearby.
Reporting about his childhood says one of his aunts lived across from the family, while an uncle, cousins and family friends were also in the same neighborhood.
This allowed Amar to grow up in an American environment while still remaining closely connected to Bosnian language, food, family relationships and culture.
Amar Sejdic’s Siblings
Reliable public sources do not currently provide enough information to confirm whether Amar Sejdic has brothers or sisters.
The University of Maryland’s official biography identifies his parents as Rizah and Elvira but does not list siblings. More detailed interviews about his childhood similarly discuss his parents, aunt, uncle and cousins without identifying any brothers or sisters.
It would therefore be inaccurate to name supposed siblings or state definitively that Sejdic is an only child without stronger public documentation.
Amar Sejdic’s Extended Family
Although information about siblings is limited, Sejdic has an extended family with strong connections to both Bosnia and Louisville.
During his childhood, an aunt lived near the family’s apartment, while an uncle and cousins were also nearby. The presence of relatives helped the Sejdic family maintain a close community after immigrating to the United States.
Amar also regularly traveled back to Bosnia while growing up.
His grandparents continued living there until around 2019, and Sejdic visited the country almost every year. A soccer field located close to his grandparents’ house became one of the places where he spent much of his time during those visits.
He has recalled playing there with local children from morning until evening, providing another important connection between his family heritage and his love of soccer.
Amar Sejdic’s Bosnian Heritage
Although Sejdic was born in Germany and raised primarily in the United States, his Bosnian heritage has remained an important part of his identity.
His parents’ experiences as refugees shaped the family story, while the large Bosnian community in Louisville meant Amar remained surrounded by people who shared similar backgrounds.
Visits to Bosnia also allowed him to maintain direct relationships with relatives and experience the country rather than knowing it only through stories from his parents.
Sejdic has therefore grown up with several cultural influences: his birthplace in Germany, his Bosnian family heritage and the American environment where he developed both personally and as a soccer player.
Amar Sejdic’s Childhood in Louisville
After arriving in Kentucky, soccer quickly became an important part of Sejdic’s childhood.
He joined United 1996 FC at a young age and later played for Derby City Rovers.
His performances eventually opened opportunities outside Louisville. Sejdic spent time in the Netherlands with Vitesse’s youth system before returning to the United States and joining the Real Salt Lake Academy.
The progression meant increasingly long periods away from the family environment his parents had created in Kentucky.
Amar Sejdic and the University of Maryland
Sejdic eventually chose to attend the University of Maryland, combining high-level soccer with his interest in business.
Maryland’s official biography specifically names Rizah and Elvira as his parents and notes that the university’s business school was one reason he chose the program.
Sejdic developed into one of Maryland’s leading players and captained the Terrapins during their national championship season in 2018.
In the NCAA championship match against Akron, he converted the decisive penalty in a 1-0 victory and was named the College Cup’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
Amar Sejdic’s Professional Career
CF Montreal selected Sejdic with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
He subsequently played for Montreal, Atlanta United and Nashville SC, building extensive MLS experience as a central midfielder.
His career brought him to Columbus Crew in March 2025 when the club signed him as a free agent.
The move also reunited Sejdic with a coaching environment and style of play that club officials believed suited his technical qualities.
Amar Sejdic’s Family and Columbus Crew
When Columbus announced Sejdic’s signing, General Manager Issa Tall specifically said the organization was excited to welcome Amar and his family to Columbus.
The statement shows that family remained part of the player’s life as he entered another professional chapter, although the club did not identify individual relatives beyond that general reference.
Columbus subsequently exercised Sejdic’s contract option for the 2026 MLS season, keeping the experienced midfielder with the Crew.
Amar Sejdic’s Family Life Today
As of now, the best-documented members of Amar Sejdic’s immediate family are his parents, Rizah and Elvira Sejdic.
Rizah comes from the Modrica area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Elvira is from Derventa. Both fled the Bosnian War, met in Germany and later moved with Amar to Louisville in search of greater opportunities.
Rizah also played an active role in Amar’s early soccer journey and later became the owner of a Bosnian grocery business in Louisville.
Reliable public sources do not identify any brothers or sisters, and there is currently no dependable public confirmation of a wife, girlfriend or children.
What is firmly established is that Amar views his parents’ decisions and sacrifices as fundamental to the opportunities he received. Their journey from Bosnia to Germany and then the United States became the foundation for a soccer career that eventually took their son from Louisville to college championships and Major League Soccer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amar Sejdic’s Family
Who is Amar Sejdic’s girlfriend?
Amar Sejdic has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through reliable sources. As of now, his romantic life remains private.
Is Amar Sejdic married?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Amar Sejdic is married.
Does Amar Sejdic have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Amar Sejdic has children as of now.
Who are Amar Sejdic’s parents?
Amar Sejdic’s parents are Rizah Sejdic and Elvira Sejdic. Both are originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Who is Amar Sejdic’s father?
Amar Sejdic’s father is Rizah Sejdic, who grew up near Modrica in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He later became involved in youth soccer in Louisville and owns a Bosnian and Balkan food market in the city.
Who is Amar Sejdic’s mother?
Amar Sejdic’s mother is Elvira Sejdic. She is originally from Derventa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and fled to Germany during the Bosnian War before later immigrating to the United States.
Does Amar Sejdic have siblings?
Reliable public sources do not currently identify any brothers or sisters of Amar Sejdic, so his sibling situation remains unconfirmed.
Where are Amar Sejdic’s parents from?
Rizah is from the area around Modrica, while Elvira is from Derventa in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Why was Amar Sejdic born in Germany?
His parents had fled Bosnia because of the war and were living in Germany when Amar was born in Berlin in 1996.
When did Amar Sejdic move to the United States?
Sejdic moved to the United States with his parents when he was approximately four years old. The family settled in Louisville, Kentucky.
Does Amar Sejdic still play for Columbus Crew?
Yes. Columbus Crew exercised Sejdic’s contract option for the 2026 MLS season.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
