As football continues to evolve, and as talent collides with determination, Dejan Kulusevski emerges as a notable figure. Hailing from the descendants of Alexander the Great, he has rapidly ascended to stardom and become a fan favorite for both his club and country. Goal 90 is elated to share with you stories from Dejan’s childhood, as well as some intriguing details about his rise to the ranks of footballing giants, along with a glimpse into his life outside of the pitch.
Family and Background
Born in Sweden, Dejan Kulusevski is of Macedonian descent, with both of his parents being Macedonian immigrants who moved to Sweden. His father’s name is Stefan Kulusevski, and he also has a sister named Sandra Kulusevska. Dejan shares an incredibly close bond with his parents, to whom he credits much of his footballing success. His Macedonian heritage is a source of immense pride and a deep connection to his roots. He’s unapologetic about embracing his Alexandrian origins.
Religion
Dejan is a devoted follower of the Christian faith. He is frequently seen posting praises of God on his Instagram account, along with occasional shares of biblical quotes.
Marital Status
As of late, Dejan remains unmarried. However, he is currently in a long-term relationship with his partner, Eldina Ahmic, with whom he is expecting a child. They frequently share pictures together on their respective personal Instagram accounts. A significant part of Dejan’s discipline and footballing maturity can be attributed to his partner, who serves as his pillar of strength and spiritual coach. The couple is reportedly planning to get married in the near future.
Childhood
Dejan Kulusevski was born on the 25th of April in 2000. Unlike the ‘rags to riches’ footballing stories that are often associated with many athletes, Dejan’s story is quite different. He comes from an affluent household of Macedonian immigrants, so he had virtually everything he wished for as a child.
From a very young age, Dejan shared a nexus of love and friendship with his sibling Sandra, who would babysit him and protect her baby brother from finks trying to provoke him. He From a very young age, Dejan shared a strong bond of love and friendship with his sibling, Sandra. She would often babysit him and protect her baby brother from anyone trying to provoke him. They were inseparable, and it seemed as if the two were joined at the hip. This deep connection hasn’t changed much in their adulthood, as they are frequently seen together on trips and at football games.
Sandra was also an avid football fan, and her passion for the beautiful game slowly began to influence young Dejan. He soon became infatuated with the sport. Growing up in a well-off household, Dejan had the privilege of his requests being seldom turned down. Unlike other kids, he didn’t ask for toys but instead implored for his favorite team’s jersey or just a ball to kick around. When his parents noticed that his passion for the game had grown exponentially, they made the decision to enroll him in IF Brommapojkarna’s youth academy at the age of six in 2006.
Building up Momentum
Similar to most of his peers, Dejan started off strong and gradually progressed through the youth ranks with time. However, during his later years as a child, around the ages of 10 and 11, he encountered a plateau in his development. This slowdown resulted in him frequently being sidelined, leading to mounting frustration.
In search of a solution, his family made the decision to move to Macedonia to further hone his football skills. The initial signs were promising as he managed to impress his coaches, and the discipline required to maintain peak form slowly took hold. Shortly thereafter, he received a call-up to Macedonia’s U15 team, which marked a pivotal moment in his budding football career. However, a year later, his family decided to return to Sweden, and Dejan switched his allegiance to Sweden by joining their U17 National Team.
Rise to Glory
In due course, he received a phone call from Atalanta’s scouting network, and it took no more than a few moments for an excited Dejan to respond affirmatively to a professional contract. He was sent to Atalanta’s youth academy for further development and quickly established himself as one of the best prospects in their system. This attracted the attention of other major Italian clubs keen on securing a deal. However, Dejan chose to ignore the interest from the bigger clubs and remained focused on honing his football skills.
At the age of 19, Dejan made his senior team debut in a commanding 5-0 victory against Frosinone. However, his playing time was limited, with only three appearances, all as a substitute. This led to a decision to loan him out to gain more game time and experience, and that’s where Parma entered the picture.
His loan to Parma during the 2019-20 season turned into a resounding success. Dejan managed to score 10 goals and provide 9 assists in 39 appearances throughout the season, earning him the title of ‘Serie A Young Player of the Season.’ It became evident to both parties that Dejan was a special talent, and this prompted the Italian giants, Juventus, to make an offer of €35 million with an additional €9 million in add-ons and variables.
Dejan kicked off his journey with Juventus by scoring a goal on his debut against Sampdoria. Initially, he was primarily used as a super-sub before gradually securing a spot in the starting XI. In his first season, he had an impressive run, registering 7 goals in 47 games while playing the Mezzala (Half-winger) role. However, his playing time under Massimiliano Allegri during his second season was severely limited, despite being fully fit and available for duty, resulting in just 27 appearances and 2 goals scored.
In an effort to rekindle his playing minutes, he was loaned to Tottenham Hotspur for 18 months, with an option to purchase that was activated in the summer of 2023. During his first season with Spurs, he led the Premier League in assists, with 8 assists, even though he joined in January. His outstanding performances and charisma immediately endeared him to the fans, making him one of their favorites.
Interesting Facts about Dejan Kulusevski
- His transfer to Juventus ranks him as one of the most expensive player signings from the 2000s generation and represents the most expensive transfer during that period.
- Dejan idolizes Eden Hazard, admitting to spending hours watching clips of the Belgian star on the internet.
- He also draws inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds a special place in his heart. Regarding Zlatan, he’s quoted as saying, “He’s a huge idol for every guy in Sweden.”
- Dejan is a polyglot with proficiency in five languages and continues to expand his linguistic repertoire by learning more.
