Dejan Lovren is one of the most decorated defenders to come out of Croatia.
From refugee beginnings in war-torn Bosnia to winning the UEFA Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool, his journey is remarkable.
This article breaks down Dejan Lovren’s net worth, including his salary, contract history, career earnings, and what made him one of the most financially successful Croatian footballers of his generation.
Dejan Lovren’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dejan Lovren |
| Date of Birth | July 5, 1989 |
| Age | 36 years old |
| Nationality | Croatian |
| Place of Birth | Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Height / Weight | 188 cm / 84 kg |
| Position | Centre-back |
| Current Club | PAOK (Super League Greece) |
| Turned Professional | 2006 (Dinamo Zagreb) |
| Net Worth | ~$35 million (estimated) |
| Career Earnings (Gross) | ~$51.9 million (estimated, per Capology) |
| Relationship Status | Married to Anita Sekulić (since July 2012) |
| Children | Elena Lovren (born August 2012), Josip Lovren (born June 2015) |
| @lovrenc6 |
Early Life & Career
Dejan Lovren was born on July 5, 1989, in Zenica, which was then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and is now Bosnia and Herzegovina.
His parents, Saša and Silva Lovren, were Bosnian Croats.
When Lovren was just three years old, the Bosnian War forced his family to flee their home. They relocated to Munich, Germany, where Dejan spent his early childhood.
The family later had to leave Germany due to a lack of proper documentation and settled in Karlovac, Croatia, a city about 50 kilometres south-west of Zagreb.
Lovren has spoken openly about the difficulties of settling in a new country and building a life from scratch.
In a 2017 documentary produced by LFC TV, he talked about his experiences as a refugee and called for more compassion toward displaced families.
Lovren first kicked a ball with Munich-based club BSC Sendling before playing for local Croatian sides NK Ilovac and NK Karlovac.
His talent caught the attention of Dinamo Zagreb in 2004, and he joined their youth academy at age 14.
He made his professional debut for Dinamo Zagreb on May 10, 2006, in a Prva HNL match against NK Varteks.
Shortly after his debut, he spent two seasons on loan at NK Inter Zaprešić, where he made 50 league appearances and developed into a consistent, physically imposing centre-back.
Professional Career
After returning from his Inter Zaprešić loan, Lovren re-established himself at Dinamo Zagreb and featured strongly in UEFA Champions League qualifiers before Lyon came calling.
In January 2010, Lyon signed him for €8 million plus incentives on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He grew into a reliable starter in Ligue 1 and helped Lyon win the 2012 Coupe de France.
In June 2013, he moved to Southampton in the Premier League for an estimated £8.5 million.
One standout season at Southampton was enough for Liverpool to sign him for £20 million in July 2014, making him the club’s most expensive defender at the time.
His six years at Liverpool were his best. He made 185 appearances for the Reds and won the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020.
The Croatian centre-back became part of Jürgen Klopp’s trusted defensive unit, building a strong partnership with Virgil van Dijk.
In July 2020, he joined Zenit Saint Petersburg for €12 million and quickly became captain of the team. He won the Russian Premier League title three consecutive times with Zenit (2021, 2022, 2023).
He returned to Lyon in January 2023 on a two-and-a-half-year deal and appeared 29 times before joining Greek club PAOK in September 2024 on a two-year contract.
At international level, Lovren made 78 appearances for Croatia and represented the country at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final, where they lost to France 4–2. He retired from international football in February 2023.
Wife
Dejan Lovren married Anita Sekulić in July 2012. The couple have two children — a daughter named Elena, born in August 2012, and a son named Josip, born in June 2015.
Lovren even named his four-star hotel “Joel” in Novalja, near Zrće beach in Croatia, combining his children’s names, Josip and Elena. He opened the hotel on May 29, 2018.
His younger brother Davor Lovren is also a professional footballer. Lovren speaks four languages — Croatian, German, English, and French — reflecting his multicultural upbringing across three countries.
Dejan Lovren’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Dejan Lovren’s has an estimated net worth of $35 million.
He built this wealth through over 18 years of professional football contracts across Croatia, France, England, Russia, and Greece, including his landmark six-year stint at Liverpool and a highly paid three-year deal at Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Contract
Lovren signed with PAOK in September 2024 on a two-year deal, keeping him at the Greek club through at least the 2025–26 season. Prior to that, his contract with Lyon ran from January 2023 to June 2025.
His most lucrative club deal was at Zenit Saint Petersburg, where he signed a three-year contract in July 2020 for a reported transfer fee of €12 million.
At Liverpool, he signed a contract extension in April 2017 worth £100,000 per week, securing his future with the club until 2021.
Salary
Lovren’s peak weekly wage was £100,000 at Liverpool, which equated to approximately £5.2 million annually.
At Zenit Saint Petersburg, he reportedly earned around £100,000 per week as well, matching his Liverpool-era earnings.
His contract with Lyon was valued at around €4.8 million per year based on available data from Foot Mercato.
At PAOK, his salary is reported at approximately £12,000 per week (£624,000 per year), reflecting a player in the final phase of his career.
Career Earnings By Year
| Club | Period | Est. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2006–2010 | ~€300,000–€500,000 |
| Lyon | 2010–2013 | ~€2.5M–€3.5M |
| Southampton | 2013–2014 | ~£1.5M |
| Liverpool | 2014–2017 | ~£3.5M–£5M |
| Liverpool | 2017–2020 | ~£5.2M (£100k/week) |
| Zenit Saint Petersburg | 2020–2023 | ~£5.2M (~£100k/week) |
| Lyon | 2023–2024 | ~€4.8M |
| PAOK | 2024–2026 | ~£624,000 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Seasons | League Apps | League Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2005–2010 | 37 | 1 | 68 | 4 |
| Inter Zaprešić (loan) | 2006–2008 | 50 | 1 | 56 | 1 |
| Lyon | 2009–2013 | 72 | 2 | 102 | 3 |
| Southampton | 2013–2014 | 31 | 2 | 31 | 2 |
| Liverpool | 2014–2020 | 131 | 5 | 185 | 8 |
| Zenit Saint Petersburg | 2020–2023 | 50 | 3 | 63 | 3 |
| Lyon (2nd spell) | 2023–2024 | 27 | 1 | 32 | 1 |
| PAOK | 2024–present | 19 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Career Total | 417 | 15 | 558+ | 22 |
International Career (Croatia)
| Years | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–2023 | 78 | 5 |
FAQs
What is Dejan Lovren’s net worth?
Dejan Lovren’s net worth is estimated at approximately $35 million. He earned the majority of his wealth through long-term contracts at Liverpool and Zenit Saint Petersburg, where he earned around £100,000 per week.
What club does Dejan Lovren play?
Lovren plays for PAOK in the Super League Greece. He signed a two-year deal with the Greek club in September 2024 and has made over 20 appearances for them across all competitions.
How much did Liverpool pay for Dejan Lovren?
Liverpool paid £20 million for Lovren in July 2014, signing him from Southampton. That made him Liverpool’s most expensive defender at the time, a record that stood until Virgil van Dijk arrived in January 2018.
How many caps did Dejan Lovren earn for Croatia?
Lovren earned 78 international caps for Croatia and scored 5 goals. He retired from international football in February 2023 after representing his country at three FIFA World Cups and one UEFA European Championship.
Did Dejan Lovren win the Champions League?
Yes, Lovren won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool, when the Reds beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 in the final in Madrid. He also won the Premier League with Liverpool in the 2019–20 season.
