Nikola Markovic (soccer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | July 24, 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Gatineau, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | D.C. United | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| FC Gatineau | |||
| CS des Collines | |||
| AS Gatineau | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2025 | NC State Wolfpack | 39 | (3) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | CF Montréal U23 | 32 | (2) |
| 2025 | Cedar Stars Rush | 7 | (0) |
| 2026– | D.C. United | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of March 7, 2026 | |||
Nikola Markovic (born July 22, 2004) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club D.C. United.
Early life
Markovic was born in Canada to Serbian parents.[1] During his youth, he played soccer with FC Gatineau, CS des Collines, and AS Gatineau.[2] When he was 12, he was offered a spot in the CF Montréal Academy, but his parents felt he was too young to move away from home, so he did not join.[2] He eventually joined the CF Montréal U23 program in 2023, following winning gold with Team Québec at the 2022 Canada Summer Games.[2] He spent some time training with the CF Montréal first team while in the U23 program.[3]
College career
In 2024, Markovic began attending North Carolina State University, where he played for the men's soccer team.[4] He made his debut on September 6, 2024, starting in a 2–1 victory over the California Golden Bears.[5] On November 21, 2024, he scored his first collegiate goal, scoring the winning goal in double overtime against the Charlotte 49ers in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament.[6] At the end of his freshman season, he was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and the ACC Academic Honor Roll.[7][4] At the end of his sophomore season, he was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-ACC First Team, All-South Region First Team, and a First Team All-American.[8][9][10] He was also named to the Best XI for the 2024 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament[11] and was also a semi-finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy.[12][13]
Club career
In 2023, Markovic began playing at the senior level with CF Montréal U23 in Ligue1 Québec.[2] In 2025, Markovic played with Cedar Stars Rush in USL League Two.[11]
Ahead of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, he signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, giving him a guaranteed contract for the 2026 season.[14][15] At the draft, he was selected first overall by D.C. United.[16][17] Markovic made his professional debut on February 21, 2026 in a 1–0 victory against Philadelphia Union, coming on for Jackson Hopkins in the 89th minute.[18]
Career statistics
- As of match played March 7, 2026
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National cup | League cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| CF Montréal U23 | 2023[19] | Ligue1 Québec | 20 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2024[19] | 12 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
| Cedar Stars Rush | 2025[20] | USL League Two | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| D.C. United | 2026 | Major League Soccer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Career total | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
References
- ^ Lewis, Michael (December 18, 2025). "He's no. 1: D.C. United grabs Markovic as top choice in MLS SuperDraft". Front Row Soccer.
- ^ a b c d Comtois, Martin (February 24, 2023). "Un Gatinois frappe à la porte du CF Montréal" [A Gatineau native knocks on the door of CF Montréal]. Le Droit (in French).
- ^ Davidson, Neil (November 29, 2025). "Canadian defender Nikola Markovic making mark with North Carolina State". Sportsnet.
- ^ a b "Nikola Markovic NC State profile". NC State Wolfpack.
- ^ "Wolfpack Opens Conference Play with Win Over California". NC State Wolfpack. September 7, 2024.
- ^ "Double OT Golden Goal Advances Wolfpack in NCAA Tournament". NC State Wolfpack. November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Healy, Karamoko, Markovic Earn All-ACC Honors". NC State Wolfpack. November 14, 2024.
- ^ "Men's Soccer Earns Three ACC Player of the Year Awards". NC State Wolfpack. November 12, 2025.
- ^ "Four Members of the Pack Earn All-South Region Honors". NC State Wolfpack. December 9, 2025.
- ^ "Erb, Markovic, and Phillip Claim All-America Honors". NC State Wolfpack. December 12, 2025.
- ^ a b "USL League Two Best XI of 2025 NCAA DI Tournament". USL League Two. November 20, 2025.
- ^ "Canadians Markovic, Caldeira among 15 semifinalists for Hermann Trophy". TSN. December 9, 2025.
- ^ "Markovic & Phillip Named as MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists". NC State Wolfpack. December 9, 2025.
- ^ "Canadian defender Markovic expected to go high in MLS SuperDraft". TSN. December 17, 2025.
- ^ Hindle, Tom (December 18, 2025). "'I've been pro for a long time' - MLS SuperDraft No. 1 pick Nikola Markovic embraces D.C. United challenge". Goal.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (December 18, 2025). "Canadian defender Nikola Markovic selected 1st overall by D.C. United in MLS SuperDraft". CBC Sports.
- ^ Booth, Chuck (December 18, 2025). "MLS SuperDraft results: Rebuilding D.C. United select Nikola Markovic out of NC State first overall". CBS Sports.
- ^ "DCvsPHI 02-21-2026 | DC United". dcunited.com. February 21, 2026. Archived from the original on February 22, 2026. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- ^ a b "Ligue1 Quebec Stats". Spordle.
- ^ "USL2 Stats". USL League Two.