Football News

Eintracht Frankfurt complete permanent deal for Luka Jovic from Benfica

By Ben Green

Published: 15:52, 17 April 2019 | Updated: 22:14, 20 September 2022

Eintracht Frankfurt have completed the signing of Luka Jovic after triggering an option to sign the striker permanently from Benfica. 

The 21-year-old Serbian joined Die Adler on a two-year loan deal in June 2017 but the club have now exercised an instalment in his contract to make the move permanent.

Jovic to Frankfurt: Five key things to know…

  1. Since signing for Frankfurt, Jovic has scored 34 goals and registered nine assists in 67 matches.
  2. His goalscoring exploits have attracted plenty of interest, with Barcelona reportedly keen on securing his services.
  3. However, earlier this month Jovic’s father revealed his son would commit to Frankfurt amid Barca interest.
  4. Frankfurt have now triggered their option to sign Jovic on a permanent deal.
  5. He has penned a four-year contract at the Commerzbank-Arena.

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Jovic has enjoyed a stellar campaign in the Bundesliga and Europa League, scoring 25 goals across all competitions, which has helped Frankfurt to the quarter-finals in Europe and fourth in the German top-flight.

Such has been his meteoric rise to prominence that some of the continent’s top clubs have been reportedly tracking him, but Frankfurt have fended off competition, tying Jovic down to a four-year contract until June 2023.

A statement on their website from sporting director Fredi Bobic read: “The development of Luka with us is very pleasing. For us there was no question that we wanted to tie him firmly to the club.

“He is a player with extraordinary skills. It is important to us that we have bound him to unity.”

Adi Hutter’s men incidentally face Benfica in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday, with the club 4-2 down on aggregate.

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‘Jovic in the mould of Suarez’

Jovic recently scored his first international goal for Serbia in a 1-1 friendly draw with Germany, and manager Mladen Krstajic was giving his thoughts on Jovic’s playing style.

The national coach described the clinical finisher as a player reminiscent to Barcelona forward Luis Suarez, so it is no wonder why the Catalan club reportedly have the 21-year-old in their crosshairs.

“He’s a classic goal-getter with great control of the ball and a good understanding of the game. I’d probably compare him to Luis Suarez,” Krstajic stated.

“He’s courageous and dangerous at any moment because he’s always lying in wait for his chance or any inattention from the opponent.

“He sometimes appears impassive or lacklustre, but that’s even more deceptive for defenders and makes him even more of a threat.”