TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
LAFC continued to build their inaugural roster with the acquisition of defender Dejan Jakovic on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old center back arrives in LA after spending the 2017 season with the NASL’s New York Cosmos, where he logged a goal and two assists in 22 matches.
The 6-foot-2 defender played for D.C. United from 2009 to 2013, logging 9,447 minutes in 111 matches across all competitions, including the 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake in the 2013 US Open Cup final.
“Dejan is an experienced player that knows this league extremely well,” LAFC general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “He is technically sound and has all the physical tools to contribute to what we are building here at LAFC.”
On the international level, Jakovic has earned 38 caps for the Canadian national team, with appearances in three different Gold Cups and five World Cup qualifiers. He was born in Karlovac, Croatia (then a part of the former Yugoslavia) but raised in Ontario, before starring collegiately at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
He’s also played professionally in Canada, Serbia, and Japan.
“Dejan is a proven MLS veteran who will bring valuable experience to our group,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “We are delighted to have Dejan join us and we look forward to his contributions on and off the pitch.”
