Transfer: Philadelphia Union Acquire Jovan Lukić From FK Spartak Subotica
Union strengthen midfield with the addition of Serbian defensive midfielder Jovan Lukić.
Chester, Pa. — The Philadelphia Union have announced the signing of Serbian midfielder Jovan Lukić from Serbian club FK Spartak Subotica. Lukić signs a contract through 2026, with club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Reports out of Serbia state that the transfer fee between Spartak Subotica and the Philadelphia Union for Lukić is €600K, equivalent to $622K. Spartak Subotica will also receive a 10% sell-on percentage if Lukić is transferred from the Union.
Lukić, 23, originally started his career with FK Čukarički (2020-2023), a club that competes in the SuperLiga Srbije (Serbian first division). He appeared in 71 games (32 starts), scoring three goals and providing three assists in 3,137 minutes. After impressing with Čukarički, he was transferred to LASK of the Austrian Bundesliga in January 2023. He was immediately sent out on loan to S.C.U. Torreense of Liga Portugal 2 (Portugal's second division), where he appeared in 17 games (three starts), playing 476 minutes. In September 2023, he was transferred to his most recent club, FK Spartak Subotica. While with Spartak Subotica, he made 39 appearances (28 starts), scoring two goals in 2,670 minutes.
“Jovan is a dynamic, ball-winning midfielder who fits well into our playing style,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. “His experience across European leagues has not only showcased his versatility but also his ability to adapt to different styles of play, and we are confident his skill set will bolster our midfield.”
Lukic represented Serbia on the U18, U19, U20 and U21 national teams from 2019-21, appearing in nine 2020 UEFA European U21 Championship tournament games and eight international friendly matches overall.
Looking at Lukić’s heatmap from the 2024 season with Spartak Subotica, he primarily operates centrally in the midfield, predominantly in the defensive half of the field, protecting the backline. He averaged two interceptions per game, 2.9 tackles per game, and 5.7 ball recoveries per game. Additionally, he averaged 26.6 passes per game (80% passing accuracy) and 2.6 long balls per game. He is a player who likes to play the ball forward and quickly initiate attacks after regaining possession.
Mark Kelkenberg and José Nuñez recently joined me on the podcast to discuss the signing of Jovan Lukić. Kelkenberg recently put out a highlight video of Lukić’s season with Spartak Subotica, showcasing his defensive attributes and passing skill set.
“Expectations will be understood. The coverage he'll provide for the midfield is going to be very good. When you bring in a player like that—I think we've talked about it pretty much all week—not only does he contribute individually, but his effect on the other players in the midfield will help tremendously,” said Mark Kelkenberg.
“Even the back line will benefit, as he's a strong back line protector. He'll drop back and help defensively, and he has no ego about doing the dirty work. That was something missing last season—allowing early goals. From a coaching perspective, you can't just sit there and watch your back line get overwhelmed. If a midfielder you're responsible for breaks past you and you're not immediately working to get goal-side, it's a constant potential disaster. The back line should be pretty happy with this move as well.”
With Lukić being more defensively minded, Danley Jean Jacques can shift to the left side of the diamond while Lukić plays as the 6. While trading Jack McGlynn to Houston may upset the fanbase, adding Lukić and moving Jean Jacques to an 8 helps Bradley Carnell maximize his Red Bull pressing system. Last season, one of the Union’s biggest issues was playing Jack McGlynn on the left side of the diamond alongside Kai Wagner. Both players loved to push forward in the attack, leaving the left side of the defense exposed whenever the Union lost possession.
Often, José Martínez or Danley Jean Jacques would vacate the middle of the field to cover for one of them, which in turn left the central areas vulnerable. Frequently, Jakob Glesnes or Damion Lowe would push high into midfield to win the ball back, causing the team to lose shape and become susceptible to conceding goals. Now, with Lukić providing more discipline, Jean Jacques won’t push as high as McGlynn did last season. This ensures defensive coverage on the left side when Wagner moves forward, and in theory, the Union should concede fewer than the 55 goals they allowed last season.
Union Max Out All Seven Of Their International Roster Slots
One key detail to note with the Lukić signing is that the Philadelphia Union have now filled all their international roster slots for 2025. Each club starts the season with eight international roster slots, but the Union made a trade last season with Nashville SC that sent $350K in General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Union, while Nashville received a 2024 and 2025 international roster slot.
There is no cap on how many international roster slots a team may add, but they must do so via trade, as Nashville did last season with the Union.
Of course, the Union could have some players obtain green cards, which would open up slots and allow them to sign more international players.
Bradley Carnell has a press conference today with the media, and one of the questions I plan on asking is whether the Union are close to securing any green cards for current players who occupy international roster slots. If the answer is yes, that would indicate that the club is likely looking to bring in another international player. After all, Ernst Tanner has mentioned that the Union aim to strengthen every position this offseason, excluding goalkeeper.
International Players
1. Tai Baribo
Jesús Bueno
Ian Glavinovich
Danley Jean Jacques
Jovan Lukić
Olwethu Makhanya
Oliver Semmle
Looks good!