Adem Ljajić (, ; born 29 September 1991) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Serbian SuperLiga club Novi Pazar.
Ljajić began his career with FK Jošanica, and later Partizan, with whom he made his debut in the Serbian SuperLiga and UEFA Champions League. In January 2010, he was set to join England's Manchester United, but the club withdrew its option to sign him in December 2009. Instead, he joined Fiorentina for a reported fee of around €8 million in January 2010. In August 2013, after three years in Florence, Ljajić joined Roma for an €11 million fee, signing a four-year contract. In July 2016, he was sold to Torino. Ljajić was sent on loan to Beşiktaş in 2018, before signing with the Turkish side in 2019. He then joined Fatih Karagümrük in 2022. In September 2023, Ljajić signed with hometown club Novi Pazar. In August 2025, he left Novi Pazar and joined Bosnian side Sarajevo.
Ljajić made his senior international debut for Serbia in 2010. From 2012 to 2014, he was frozen out of the team by manager Siniša Mihajlović for objecting to singing the Serbian national anthem. Ljajić was part of the Serbian squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He earned a total of 47 caps, scoring 9 goals, and his final international was an October 2020 Nations League match against Hungary.
Club career Partizan Born in Novi Pazar in the Serbian region of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Ljajić joined Partizan at age 14 in 2005, signing from Serbian lower-tier club FK Jošanica. Ljajić was the first player to wear the number 22 for Partizan after Saša Ilić transferred to Galatasaray in 2005. Ljajić made an appearance for Partizan in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League on 29 July 2008 as a second-half substitute. He made a second substitute appearance in the second leg and another substitute appearance in the second leg of the third qualifying round. He scored his first competitive goal for Partizan on 23 November 2008 in a league match against OFK Beograd.
In October 2008, Manchester United had given Ljajić a trial, although no information was given about the length of the trial initially. On 2 January 2009, Manchester United announced the signings of both Ljajić and his Partizan teammate, Zoran Tošić. Tošić would join the club immediately while Ljajić would remain at Partizan for the remainder of 2009, joining United in January 2010.
Despite being unable to officially join the club until January 2010, Ljajić made regular trips to Manchester throughout 2009 to train with the United first team, so the club's coaches could monitor his progress. However, United decided not to take up their option to sign Ljajić due to issues surrounding the club's application for a work permit. Following the transfer's collapse, Partizan manager Goran Stevanović claimed the situation had put Ljajić into "psychological shock" but that Ljajić was "handling the situation well". Partizan director of football Ivan Tomić said, "I think that they will regret this decision in future."
Fiorentina
On 13 January 2010, Italian Serie A club Fiorentina announced the signing of Ljajić. After passing a medical, Ljajić signed a five-year contract, with Partizan receiving a reported fee of €8 million for the player. Ljajić made his debut in Fiorentina's 2–2 draw away to Cagliari on 31 January 2010, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Manuel Pasqual. However, his first half-season at the club under head coach Cesare Prandelli was spent settling into the new surroundings.
The arrival of Ljajić's compatriot Siniša Mihajlović as head coach saw increased first-team opportunities for Ljajić. He scored his first Viola goal from the penalty spot against Lazio on 18 September 2010, which Fiorentina lost 1–2.
On 2 May 2012, Ljajić was substituted in a match against Novara. His reaction to this substitution was to sarcastically applaud the manager Delio Rossi, who grabbed and attempted to punch Ljajić. Fiorentina announced after the match that Rossi had been dismissed as manager and that they would take proportionate measures against Ljajić. Ljajić's teammate Valon Behrami, who was on the substitutes' bench at the time of the incident, said no one, including him, had heard Ljajić insult Rossi, which disproved Rossi's claims Ljajić insulted his family. Behrami added Rossi should be ashamed for his actions as well as for lying to the media.
Ljajić scored a brace as La Viola beat Internazionale 4–1 on 17 February 2013.
Roma Ljajić signed with Roma on 28 August 2013 for a fee of €11 million, potentially rising to €15 million depending on the club's success, with Ljajić signing a four-year contract. He chose the number 8 jersey, left vacant by Erik Lamela, which Ljajić also used with the Serbia national team. On 1 September 2013, Ljajić made his Roma debut in a match against Hellas Verona, replacing Alessandro Florenzi; Ljajić scored the final goal in 3–0 win. In his first season in Rome, Ljajić scored 6 goals in 32 appearances.
On 30 August 2014, Ljajić made his 2014–15 season debut in a 2–0 win for the Giallorossi over Fiorentina. On 24 September, he scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 Roma victory over Parma. On 6 December, he scored his first brace for Roma, which allowed Roma to come back and draw the home match against Sassuolo, which finished 2–2. On 26 February 2015, he scored his first goal in the UEFA Europa League for the club, the opener in a 2–1 win away to Feyenoord. He concluded the season with 41 appearances and 9 goals, making him the club's second-highest goalscorer of the season, after Francesco Totti.
Loan to Inter Milan On 31 August 2015, Ljajić signed for Inter Milan on a season-long loan, with Inter paying Roma €1.75 million and including an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season for €11 million.OPERAZIONI DI MERCATO 31 August 2015 AS Roma On 1 December 2015, Ljajić scored his first Inter goal in a 2–1 away loss to Napoli.
Torino After Inter opted not to exercise their purchase option, Ljajić was sold to Torino on 18 July 2016 for €8.5 million, plus €500,000 in potential bonuses.
Beşiktaş On 31 August 2018, Ljajić joined Turkish Süper Lig club Beşiktaş on a season-long loan. On 29 May 2019, Beşiktaş signed Ljajić on a permanent deal for a reported fee of €6.5 million.
Fatih Karagümrük On 28 September 2022, Ljajić joined Fatih Karagümrük on a one-and-a-half-year contract. He only became available for the team's official matches starting January 2023.
Novi Pazar On 14 September 2023, Ljajić returned to his hometown and signed for Novi Pazar. It is also stated that Ljajić had one condition, and it concerns his salary. Namely, he asked to play for the club for free. Three days later, he scored the winning goal on his debut in a 2–1 win over Napredak, coming on in the 58th minute as a substitute for Adetunji Adeshina.
Sarajevo In August 2025, Ljajić left Novi Pazar and signed a two-year contract with Bosnian Premier League club Sarajevo.
Return to Novi Pazar On 31 August 2026, Ljajić returned to Novi Pazar, signing a one-year contract.
International career
Ljajić represented the Serbia under-17 and under-19 teams. On 7 September 2008, he made his international debut for the under-21 squad in a European Championship qualification match against Hungary. On 26 October 2010, it was announced by Serbia coach Vladimir Petrović that Ljajić would receive his first senior call-up against Bulgaria in a friendly match on 17 November 2010.
Ljajić was removed from his country's squad by head coach Siniša Mihajlović after refusing to sing the Serbian national anthem in a 2–0 friendly loss against Spain on 28 May 2012 for personal reasons. Ljajić previously signed a code of conduct established by Mihajlović that included, among other things, to sing the Serbian national anthem, "Bože pravde" (God of Justice). Ljajić confirmed Mihajlović's statement, also claiming he loves Serbia and that he has a will to play for its national team, but added he must respect himself, implying he was no longer going to play under Mihajlović.
On 17 February 2014, the new head coach of the Serbia national team, Ljubinko Drulović, said he would not require players to sing the national anthem but to give their all for their country on the field. Ljajić scored his first goal for the senior side on 7 June 2015 in a 4–1 friendly win against Azerbaijan.
In June 2018, Ljajić was included in the 23-man Serbian squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he played in all three group matches as Serbia was eliminated during the group stage.
Basketball career On 7 November 2024, Ljajić signed a contract with KK Novi Pazar 1969. The club announced that Ljajić would "be available to coach Hadžerić when he balances his obligations with the football team".
Personal life
Ljajić is an ethnic Bosniak and a practising Muslim.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cup ContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPartizan2008–09Serbian SuperLiga2455140—3362009–10Serbian SuperLiga1442082—246Total38971122—5712Fiorentina2009–10Serie A9010——1002010–11Serie A26320——2832011–12Serie A15130——1812012–13Serie A281131——31122013–14Serie A00—10—10Total78159110—8816Roma2013–14Serie A28640——3262014–15Serie A3282071—4192015–16Serie A10———10Total61146071—7415Inter Milan (loan)2015–16Serie A25331——284Torino2016–17Serie A331032——36122017–18Serie A27610——2862018–19Serie A10———10Total611642——6518Beşiktaş2018–19Süper Lig279—50—3292019–20Süper Lig2451042—2972020–21Süper Lig2221010—2422021–22Süper Lig00———00Total731620102—8518Fatih Karagümrük2022–23Süper Lig90———902023–24Süper Lig20———20Total110———110Novi Pazar2023–24Serbian SuperLiga24920——2692024–25Serbian SuperLiga35810——3682025–26Serbian SuperLiga200020—40Total61173020—6617Sarajevo2025–26Bosnian Premier League25621—102872026–27Bosnian Premier League000020—20Total256212010307Novi Pazar2026–27Serbian SuperLiga3100——31Career total4369736634510507108
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSerbia20101020115020121020130020142020158320163020175220181032019101202020Total479
Scores and results list Serbia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ljajić goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Adem LjajićNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1 7 June 2015 NV Arena, Sankt Pölten, Austria 2–1 4–1 Friendly 2 4 September 2015 Karađorđe Stadium, Novi Sad, Serbia 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 3 8 October 2015 Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 4 10 November 2017 Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, China 1–0 2–0 Friendly 5 14 November 2017 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea 1–0 1–1 Friendly 6 9 June 2018 Liebenauer Stadium, Graz, Austria 2–0 5–1 Friendly 7 17 November 2018 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia 1–0 2–1 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C 8 20 November 2018 Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia 4–1 4–1 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C 9 10 June 2019 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia 4–1 4–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
Honours Partizan Serbian SuperLiga: 2008–09 Serbian Cup: 2008–09
Beşiktaş Süper Lig: 2020–21 Turkish Cup: 2020–21
Individual Serbian SuperLiga Team of the Season: 2023–24 Serbian SuperLiga Player of the Week: 2024–25 (Round 1, Round 34) Serbian SuperLiga Player of the Season: 2024–25
References
External links