Last Updated on September 21, 2026 by Wilson
Dejan Joveljić is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Seattle Sounders FC and the Serbia national team. Born on August 7, 1999, in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Joveljić developed through Red Star Belgrade before building a career that has taken him to Germany, Austria and Major League Soccer in the United States.
Family has remained extremely important throughout Joveljić’s career. He is married to his longtime partner, Anđela Erkić Joveljić, and the couple have a daughter named Daša. His parents are Mladen and Vlatka Joveljić, while his publicly known sibling is his sister, Tamara. Dejan has repeatedly described his parents and sister as some of the most important people in his life.
Who Is Dejan Joveljić’s Wife?
Dejan Joveljić’s wife is Anđela Erkić Joveljić. The couple were together for several years before marriage and became increasingly visible publicly during Dejan’s successful period with the LA Galaxy.
Anđela regularly supported Joveljić during his Major League Soccer career, including during the Galaxy’s run to the 2024 MLS Cup championship. Serbian media documented photographs and messages she shared in support of Dejan after he helped Los Angeles win the title.
By early 2025, MLS was publicly referring to Anđela as Joveljić’s wife while reporting that the couple were preparing to welcome their first child. The pair had also held an American-style gender reveal shortly after the Galaxy’s MLS Cup victory.
Serbian and Bosnian sports media later reported a major wedding celebration involving Dejan and Anđela at the end of May 2026. Serbian international Aleksa Terzić served as Dejan’s best man, while singer Džejla Ramović performed during the celebration.
The different timelines reported publicly suggest that the couple may have formalized their relationship earlier and held a larger wedding celebration later. What is firmly established is that Anđela is now publicly identified as Dejan Joveljić’s wife.
Dejan Joveljić and Anđela Erkić’s Relationship
Joveljić and Anđela have experienced several major life changes together while living in the United States. Their relationship became more publicly visible during Dejan’s years with the LA Galaxy, particularly when Anđela celebrated his sporting achievements through social media.
After the Galaxy won the MLS Cup in December 2024, their attention quickly turned toward starting a family. When Joveljić moved from Los Angeles to Sporting Kansas City ahead of the 2025 season, he revealed that Anđela was pregnant with their first child.
The striker acknowledged that living thousands of miles from Serbia could be challenging for the family. He explained that relatives visiting from Europe was not always simple because of the distance and U.S. visa requirements, particularly as he and Anđela prepared for parenthood.
Nevertheless, the couple continued building their life in the United States, first in Los Angeles, then Kansas City and, following Dejan’s 2026 transfer, Seattle.
Dejan Joveljić’s Children
Dejan Joveljić and his wife Anđela have one publicly confirmed child, a daughter named Daša.
Daša Joveljić
Dejan and Anđela welcomed their daughter, Daša, in the spring of 2025. Serbian media reported the happy news after Anđela shared the arrival of their daughter publicly.
The birth came only a few months after Joveljić left the LA Galaxy for Sporting Kansas City. Becoming a father therefore coincided with another major transition in his professional career.
MLS had already reported before Daša’s birth that Dejan and Anđela were eagerly preparing for their first child. They were considering decisions such as finding a suitable family home and arranging visits from their parents in Serbia to help after the baby arrived.
Because Daša is a young child and not a public figure, relatively few details about her life have been made public beyond her name and her parents’ announcement.
As of now, Daša is the only child of Dejan Joveljić and Anđela who has been publicly confirmed by reliable sources.
Who Are Dejan Joveljić’s Parents?
Dejan Joveljić’s parents are Mladen Joveljić and Vlatka Joveljić. Both were central figures during his development from a football-obsessed child in Bijeljina into one of Red Star Belgrade’s leading academy prospects.
Joveljić had to become independent unusually early. His football development required frequent travel from Bijeljina to Belgrade before he eventually moved away from his family and began living in the Serbian capital at only 12 years old.
In interviews from his Red Star years, Dejan consistently emphasized how much his parents supported him during that demanding period.
Dejan Joveljić’s Father: Mladen Joveljić
Dejan Joveljić’s father is Mladen Joveljić. He was one of the most influential people in Dejan’s early football journey and was largely responsible for his son becoming a passionate Red Star Belgrade supporter.
Mladen had supported Red Star long before Dejan was born. Joveljić recalled that his father would travel by train from Zenica to watch the club when he was younger.
When Dejan began developing seriously as a footballer, Mladen devoted enormous amounts of time to supporting him. Before Dejan permanently relocated to Belgrade, his father regularly drove him from Bijeljina to training.
Joveljić once estimated that his father had watched approximately 298 of the roughly 300 matches he played at youth level. That level of commitment illustrates how closely Mladen followed his son’s development.
The support continued after Dejan became a professional and moved overseas. When the LA Galaxy reached the 2024 MLS Cup final, Mladen traveled to California specifically to watch his son compete for the championship.
Joveljić scored in the Galaxy’s 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls, helping his club lift the MLS Cup. He later revealed that his father had made the long journey for only a brief stay because he wanted to witness the match in person.
Dejan Joveljić’s Mother: Vlatka Joveljić
Dejan Joveljić’s mother is Vlatka Joveljić. Although she has maintained a much lower public profile than her footballer son, Dejan has directly identified her as one of the people who provided the greatest support during his childhood.
Moving away from home at only 12 was particularly difficult for Joveljić. He has recalled that his first days living away from his family were among the hardest periods of his young life.
The experience forced him to mature quickly, but the support of Vlatka, Mladen and his sister helped him adjust to the demands of Red Star’s academy.
Even after becoming an established professional abroad, Joveljić continued speaking about how much returning to Bijeljina and spending time with his mother, father and sister meant to him.
Dejan Joveljić’s Sister
Dejan Joveljić has a sister named Tamara Joveljić. She is the only sibling he has publicly identified in reliable interviews and Serbian sports coverage.
Tamara Joveljić
Tamara Joveljić is Dejan’s sister. During his early Red Star career, Joveljić named Tamara alongside his parents Mladen and Vlatka when discussing the people who provided him with the greatest support.
In another interview, Dejan explained that he was happiest when returning home to Bijeljina and seeing his father, mother and sister, emphasizing how important his immediate family remained even after football required him to spend much of his life away from home.
Tamara has not pursued the same level of public sporting career as her brother and has generally remained outside media coverage. Reliable sources provide little information about her occupation or private life.
For that reason, details about Tamara beyond her confirmed relationship with Dejan should not be inferred from social-media profiles or other unofficial sources.
How Dejan Joveljić’s Family Supported His Football Dream
Joveljić’s path toward professional football required significant sacrifice from the entire family. He grew up in Bijeljina and became involved with Red Star Belgrade while still very young.
Initially, his father handled the demanding travel required for training. As Dejan progressed, however, regularly commuting between Bijeljina and Belgrade became impractical.
At only 12 years old, Joveljić moved to Belgrade and began living away from his family. He later admitted that the first days of separation were extremely difficult.
That experience forced him to learn independence earlier than most children his age. He nevertheless said the constant encouragement from his parents helped him continue pursuing his ambitions.
His development eventually paid off. Joveljić progressed through Red Star’s academy and reached the senior team, winning domestic honors and appearing in the UEFA Champions League.
Dejan Joveljić’s Family Roots in Bijeljina
Although Joveljić represents Serbia internationally, he was born and raised in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city remains an important part of his identity.
During his Red Star years, Joveljić frequently returned to Bijeljina whenever his schedule allowed. He described spending time with his immediate family there as one of the things that made him happiest.
Bijeljina has produced several prominent Serbian footballers, and Joveljić grew up surrounded by a strong football culture. His family’s devotion to Red Star was especially influential, with Mladen passing his enthusiasm for the Belgrade club to his son.
Even after Dejan moved to Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt, Austria with Wolfsberger AC and eventually the United States, his connection with his hometown and family remained strong.
Starting His Own Family in the United States
Joveljić’s family life entered a new phase during his MLS career. After joining the LA Galaxy in 2021, he gradually established himself as one of the league’s most productive strikers.
Anđela was alongside him during the most successful period of his Galaxy career. In 2024, Joveljić scored 21 goals across all competitions and played a major role in the club’s MLS Cup triumph.
Shortly afterward, the couple learned they were preparing to become parents. Their daughter Daša arrived during Dejan’s first season with Sporting Kansas City in 2025.
By then, Joveljić was no longer simply the young player who had left his parents and sister behind to pursue football. He had become a husband and father with a family of his own.
Dejan Joveljić’s Move to Seattle Sounders
Another major family move followed in August 2026 when Seattle Sounders acquired Joveljić from Sporting Kansas City for $6 million.
Seattle signed the Serbian striker as a Designated Player on a contract running through June 2030, with a club option extending through June 2031.
The transfer continued a remarkable career that began with Red Star Belgrade and later included Eintracht Frankfurt, Anderlecht, Wolfsberger AC, the LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City.
His move to Seattle also meant another relocation for Anđela and their young daughter as Joveljić began the next stage of his MLS career.
Dejan Joveljić Keeps a Strong Connection With His Family
Joveljić has spent much of his life far from Bijeljina, yet his comments over the years consistently show how important his family remains.
Mladen made extraordinary efforts to attend his matches when Dejan was a youth player. Vlatka supported him through the difficult transition of leaving home as a child, while Tamara remained one of the relatives he most looked forward to seeing whenever he returned home.
Today, Joveljić also has his own immediate family. His relationship with Anđela developed alongside his rise to prominence in MLS, and the arrival of their daughter Daša in 2025 added a new dimension to his life away from football.
As of now, Dejan Joveljić is married to Anđela Erkić Joveljić and they have one publicly confirmed child, their daughter Daša. His parents are Mladen and Vlatka Joveljić, and his publicly known sibling is his sister, Tamara Joveljić.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dejan Joveljić’s Family
Who is Dejan Joveljić’s wife?
Dejan Joveljić’s wife is Anđela Erkić Joveljić. She has supported him throughout his MLS career, and the couple held a major wedding celebration in 2026 after being together for several years.
Does Dejan Joveljić have children?
Yes. Dejan Joveljić and his wife Anđela have one publicly confirmed child, a daughter named Daša.
Who is Dejan Joveljić’s daughter?
Dejan Joveljić’s daughter is Daša Joveljić. She was born in the spring of 2025 while her father was playing for Sporting Kansas City.
Who are Dejan Joveljić’s parents?
Dejan Joveljić’s parents are Mladen Joveljić and Vlatka Joveljić. Both provided important support during his childhood and early football career.
Who is Dejan Joveljić’s father?
Dejan Joveljić’s father is Mladen Joveljić. He regularly drove Dejan from Bijeljina to training in Belgrade and attended almost all of his son’s youth matches.
Who is Dejan Joveljić’s mother?
Dejan Joveljić’s mother is Vlatka Joveljić. Dejan has publicly named her as one of his greatest sources of support.
Does Dejan Joveljić have siblings?
Yes. Dejan Joveljić has a publicly known sister named Tamara Joveljić.
Who is Tamara Joveljić?
Tamara Joveljić is Dejan’s sister. He has repeatedly mentioned her alongside his parents when discussing the family members who mean the most to him.
Where is Dejan Joveljić’s family from?
Joveljić grew up with his family in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He left home at a young age to develop with Red Star Belgrade but has maintained a strong connection with Bijeljina throughout his career.
Wilson Gaspar is a football analyst covering the UEFA Champions League, focusing on match previews, tactical reviews, and the performance of Europe’s top clubs throughout the competition.
