SAN JOSE, Calif. \u2014\u00a0The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club acquired Australia youth international forward Luka Jovanovi\u0107 from Australian A-League side Adelaide United FC on a permanent transfer and signed him to a U-22 Initiative Player contract through the 2027-28 Major League Soccer season with an option for 2028-29, pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.\u00a0Jovanovi\u0107 will occupy an International Roster Slot.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jovanovi\u0107, 21, joins the Black and Blue after a breakthrough 2025-26 season with Adelaide United where he scored 11 goals to share the A-League Golden Boot. The striker not only led the Reds to AFC Champions League Elite qualification for the first time in a decade, but also a 10-match domestic league winning streak and a semifinal finish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pleased to announce the transfer and signing of Luka Jovanovi\u0107 as a U-22 Initiative Player,\u201d said Earthquakes Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena. \u201cLuka is a young striker with outstanding potential as\u00a0demonstrated\u00a0by his play this past year as the Golden Boot winner in the Australian first division. His work ethic and goalscoring make him an excellent addition to our\u00a0roster\u00a0and we welcome him to the San Jose Earthquakes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
At club level,\u00a0Jovanovi\u0107\u00a0has\u00a0made\u00a077\u00a0league\u00a0appearances\u00a0with Adelaide United\u00a0in Australia\u2019s first division\u00a0over the past\u00a0four\u00a0seasons\u00a0since turning pro\u00a0in 2022\u00a0at 17 years old, scoring 23 career goals and amassing\u00a0five assists in league play.\u00a0A native of Adelaide, he also graduated from the club\u2019s academy (2019-22).\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a talk with Coach [Arena] and my team, and San Jose was the right move for the next step in my career,\u201d said Jovanovi\u0107. \u201cThe Earthquakes have done well so far this season, so hopefully I can score as many goals as I can for the club and win some trophies.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the international level,\u00a0Jovanovi\u0107 is eligible to\u00a0represent\u00a0Australia through birth or Serbia through his parents. So far, he has\u00a0featured for\u00a0the former at the Under-20 and U-23 levels,\u00a0with a combined 20 appearances and nine goals.\u00a0He won the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup for the\u00a0Socceroos, scoring three goals\u00a0during the tournament,\u00a0and\u00a0in the final,\u00a0buried\u00a0his penalty kick\u00a0in\u00a0their victorious shootout after extra time over Saudi Arabia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jovanovi\u0107 joins\u00a0midfielder\u00a0Niko Tsakiris as the\u00a0Earthquakes\u2019\u00a0second U-22 Initiative Player, leaving one more such spot for San Jose on the roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n