1. Early Life and Career
Aleksandar Mitrović was born on September 16, 1994, in Smederevo, Yugoslavia (present-day Serbia). He joined the youth system of FK Partizan at the age of 11 in 2005. Before being promoted to Partizan's first team, he made his senior debut with their affiliated club, FK Teleoptik, during the 2011-12 season. In that season, he scored 7 goals in 25 matches. On June 27, 2012, Mitrović signed his first professional four-year contract with Partizan. Nine minutes into his official debut for the club in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Maltese side Valletta, he scored a goal after coming on as a substitute. At the age of 18, Mitrović was recognized by UEFA reporters as one of the top 10 talents under 19 in Europe.
2. Club Career
Aleksandar Mitrović's professional club career began in Serbia before moving to Belgium, England, and then Saudi Arabia, where he consistently demonstrated his prowess as a formidable striker.
2.1. Partizan
After his professional contract signing, Mitrović continued to make an impact at FK Partizan. On August 23, 2012, he scored a header against Tromsø in the UEFA Europa League play-off round. Three days later, he scored his first league goal in the Serbian SuperLiga against Jagodina. On November 17, 2012, he scored the opening goal in his first ever Eternal derby, a match Partizan eventually lost 3-2. Five days later, he also scored in a 1-1 away draw against Azerbaijani side Neftchi Baku during the Europa League group stage. By the end of his debut season with Partizan, Mitrović was the team's top scorer in all competitions, netting 15 goals in 36 appearances, despite being one of the youngest players. His performances earned him a spot in the Jelen SuperLiga's Team of the Season, and Serbian sports portal Mozzart Sport rated him third among the league's top 25 players that season. He contributed to Partizan's 2012-13 league title victory.
2.2. Anderlecht
On August 12, 2013, after considerable speculation, Mitrović transferred to R.S.C. Anderlecht for a club-record fee of 5.00 M EUR, joining the Belgian club on August 30. He made his debut on September 1, providing two assists after coming on as a substitute in a league match against Zulte Waregem.
A notable incident occurred on December 10, 2013, in the last round of the Champions League Group C against Olympiacos, when Mitrović had to replace sent-off goalkeeper Silvio Proto, though he failed to save a penalty from Alejandro Domínguez. He concluded his debut season in Belgium with 16 league goals, contributing to Anderlecht's 33rd league title.
Mitrović started the 2014-15 season by scoring in Anderlecht's 2-1 Super Cup victory over K.S.C. Lokeren. On November 5, 2014, in a Champions League Group D match against Arsenal, he scored the equalizer in the 90th minute, completing Anderlecht's comeback from 3-0 down to a 3-3 draw. Overall, he scored 20 goals in the Pro League, making him the competition's top scorer, and 28 goals across all competitions that season. On March 22, 2015, he scored Anderlecht's only goal in their 2-1 Belgian Cup Final loss to Club Brugge.
2.3. Newcastle United
On July 21, 2015, Mitrović joined Newcastle United on a five-year contract for a reported £13.00 M GBP, expressing his desire to play like club legend Alan Shearer.
He made his debut on August 9 in a 2-2 draw against Southampton at St James' Park, receiving a booking just 22 seconds into his appearance for a foul on Matt Targett. Twenty days later, he was sent off in the 15th minute of a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal for a foul on Francis Coquelin. His first Newcastle goal came on October 3, opening the scoring in a 6-1 loss away to Manchester City.
On March 20, 2016, Mitrović headed the equalizer in a 1-1 draw against arch-rivals Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby, earning a booking for removing his shirt in celebration. A fan who ran onto the pitch to celebrate with him was subsequently banned. On April 2, he scored two goals, one from a penalty, in a 3-2 defeat to Norwich City. On the final day of the season, with Newcastle already relegated, Mitrović scored the second goal in a 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur but was also sent off for a high challenge on Kyle Walker, becoming the sixth player in Premier League history to score, assist, and be sent off in the same match.
After serving a four-match suspension for that red card, Mitrović made his season debut in the EFL Cup on August 23, 2016, against Cheltenham, but was forced off with a head injury. He then made his Championship debut on September 13, scoring the fifth goal in a 6-0 win against Queens Park Rangers. On October 25, he bagged a brace and an assist in another 6-0 win over Preston North End in the EFL Cup. That weekend, he started his first league match since the Deepdale fixture and scored another brace in a 2-1 win against Preston. Despite facing increased competition for playing time from summer signing Dwight Gayle, Mitrović remained positive, stating that the team was in good form as they reached the top of the table.
On January 7, 2017, Mitrović was injured during an FA Cup match against Birmingham City. On February 11, he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, though he was substituted at half-time due to a booking. On August 30, he received a three-match ban after an elbow to Manuel Lanzini's head was caught on camera. Mitrović returned to the squad on October 21 for a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, receiving a "surprising hero's welcome." In mid-December, a back injury sidelined him for the rest of the month and January. Towards the end of December, Mitrović expressed his expectation to leave the club during the January transfer window to find "the best solution for my career."
2.4. Fulham
On February 1, 2018, Mitrović joined Championship club Fulham on loan until the end of the season. His move to Fulham came after failed transfers to Bordeaux and his former club Anderlecht, before a discussion with fellow Serb manager Slaviša Jokanović on Snapchat led him to join Fulham. He made his debut for the West London club on February 3 in a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest. On February 21, Mitrović scored his first goal for Fulham in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City, beginning a prolific run of 6 goals in 4 matches. In April, he scored five more goals, including winning goals against Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland, earning him back-to-back Championship Player of the Month awards for March and April.
Mitrović finished the loan spell with 12 goals. Fulham narrowly missed automatic promotion on the final day, losing 3-1 to Birmingham City, their first league loss of the calendar year. Although he did not score in the play-offs, he started in the play-off final, where Fulham defeated Aston Villa 1-0 to secure promotion to the Premier League.
On July 30, 2018, Mitrović signed permanently with Fulham for an initial fee of £22.00 M GBP, potentially rising to £27.00 M GBP, on a five-year contract until June 2023. On August 18, he scored an inventive header to equalize in a 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. He followed this with three goals in Fulham's next two matches against Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion, though his handball in the latter led to a conceded penalty. On November 24, in Claudio Ranieri's first match in charge, Mitrović scored a brace in a 3-2 win over Southampton, ending a six-match goal drought. On December 29, against Huddersfield Town, Mitrović had an on-field argument with teammate Aboubakar Kamara over taking a penalty, which Kamara missed; Mitrović later scored the winning goal. This incident was followed by another altercation between Mitrović and Kamara during a yoga session in January 2019, which led to Kamara's loan departure from the club. On January 29, Mitrović scored a brace against Brighton, with his second goal being his 10th of the season and 20th in the Premier League. Fulham was eventually relegated from the Premier League that season.
On July 9, 2019, he signed a new five-year contract, extending his deal until June 2024.
2.4.1. 2021-22 season
Following Fulham's return to the Championship, Mitrović was reinstated as a regular starter under new manager Marco Silva. In August, he scored four goals in four consecutive matches. Towards the end of the month, he extended his contract again, this time until the summer of 2026. On September 29, 2021, Mitrović scored his first hat-trick of the season against Swansea City, with all three goals coming in the first half of a 3-1 home win. His stellar form continued into October, where he scored eight goals, including another hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion, earning him the Player of the Month award.
Mitrović scored his third hat-trick of the season in a dominant 6-2 home win over Bristol City on January 15, 2022, bringing his league goal tally to 27 goals in just 24 games. On February 12, he scored his 31st goal of the season in a 1-0 victory over Hull City, equaling Ivan Toney's record for most goals in a Championship season with 16 matches still remaining. He broke this record nine days later, scoring his 32nd and 33rd goals in a 2-1 home win over Peterborough United.
On April 19, 2022, Mitrović scored his 39th and 40th league goals of the campaign in a 3-0 home win against Preston North End, a result that confirmed Fulham's promotion back to the Premier League. On April 24, he was voted EFL Championship Player of the Season at the annual EFL Awards and was also named in the Team of the Season alongside teammates Tosin Adarabioyo, Antonee Robinson, and Harry Wilson.
In a 7-0 win against Luton Town on May 2, Mitrović scored two goals to equal and then surpass Guy Whittingham's record for the highest scoring English league season in the current 46-game format, by scoring 43 goals in a season. This victory also confirmed Fulham as the Championship champions.
2.4.2. 2022-23 season
On August 6, 2022, in Fulham's opening match of the 2022-23 Premier League season, Mitrović scored both goals in a 2-2 home draw against Liverpool. He scored a 90th-minute winner in a 3-2 home win over Brentford on August 20. On August 27, he scored in a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, marking his 100th goal for Fulham and surpassing his entire goal tally from the 2020-21 season in just four games. Mitrović scored his fifth goal of the season in a 2-1 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion, and four days later netted his sixth goal in six Premier League games in a 2-1 away defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. After picking up an injury on international duty with Serbia, Mitrović's playing time was affected. He returned to the Fulham team after missing one game, a 3-1 away loss at West Ham United, and scored a penalty to equalize in a 2-2 draw with fellow newly promoted AFC Bournemouth. He continued his scoring streak in the next two consecutive games, 3-0 and 3-2 wins over Aston Villa and Leeds United, respectively. Mitrović missed the last two Premier League games before the World Cup break, which Fulham lost 2-1 in both games to the two Manchester clubs.
Following the World Cup break, Mitrović maintained his fine goalscoring form, scoring in a 3-0 away win at Crystal Palace, before missing a 96th-minute penalty in a 2-1 win over Southampton. He ended 2022 with 31 goals in 35 games across the EFL Championship and Premier League. He started 2023 in the same fashion, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 away win at Leicester, helping Fulham to their third consecutive Premier League win for the first time since 2009. However, his fifth yellow card, picked up for a foul on Harvey Barnes, ruled him out of the subsequent game against Chelsea.
2.5. Al-Hilal
On August 19, 2023, Mitrović joined Saudi club Al-Hilal from Fulham for a club-record transfer fee of £50.00 M GBP. Five days later, he scored a goal on his debut in a 4-0 win over Al Raed. On September 1, he scored his first hat-trick at the club in a 4-3 away win over Al-Ittihad. On October 23, 2023, Mitrović scored his first AFC Champions League hat-trick against Indian side Mumbai City in a massive 6-0 home win. In his first season at Al-Hilal, Mitrović scored 40 goals in 43 games.
3. International Career
Aleksandar Mitrović has been a cornerstone of the Serbian national football teams, from youth levels to becoming the senior team's all-time leading goalscorer.
3.1. Youth National Teams
With four goals, Mitrović was the top scorer for the Serbian national team in their successful qualifying campaign for the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. However, on July 3, 2012, the opening day of the final tournament, he was sent off during a match against France U19, causing him to miss the rest of the competition due to suspension. On March 26, 2013, Mitrović scored two goals in a friendly for Serbia's U21 team against Bulgaria U21.
Mitrović was called up by Serbia's U19 coach Ljubinko Drulović for two qualification matches for the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He was a member of the squad that traveled to Lithuania for the final tournament, where he established himself as a key player in Serbia's U19 team, which won the competition for the first time in Serbian football history. He contributed a goal and two assists during the tournament, including one in the final match against France U19. Mitrović was also named the tournament's Golden Player for his exceptional performances.
3.2. Senior National Team
Mitrović received his first call-up to the Serbian senior national team by coach Siniša Mihajlović for a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Belgium. He played 69 minutes on his debut on June 7, 2013, receiving a yellow card before being substituted. On September 6, Mitrović scored his first goal for the senior side in a 1-1 home draw against Croatia in another World Cup qualifier. Two years later, he scored his next international goal, a consolation in a 2-1 friendly defeat to France at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, marking Serbia's 100th match as an independent nation.
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Mitrović scored three goals in two matches to keep Serbia in contention to qualify from their group. On October 9, 2016, he scored a brace in a 3-2 win against Austria, and on November 12, he scored the equalizer against Wales in a 1-1 draw. He continued this scoring run in 2017, with goals against Georgia, Wales, and Moldova, putting him ahead of teammate Dušan Tadić as the group's top goalscorer.
In May 2018, he was named in Serbia's preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and made the final 23-man squad on June 1. Before the tournament, Mitrović scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Bolivia. On June 22, he scored the opening goal in an eventual 2-1 loss to Switzerland. He was also involved in a penalty claim during the match, but the appeal was turned down. He played all three group stage matches as Serbia exited the tournament.
Later that year, on October 11, he scored a brace in a 2-0 UEFA Nations League victory over neighboring Montenegro in the first match between the two countries since their split in 2006. The following month, against the same opposition, he spurned a chance to score another brace by missing a Panenka penalty kick. From June to November 2019, he began a scoring run with eleven goals in seven matches. The majority of these came during Serbia's qualifying group for UEFA Euro 2020, including braces both home and away against Lithuania and Luxembourg.
On November 12, 2020, in a Euro 2020 qualifying play-off against Scotland that ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, Mitrović took Serbia's fifth penalty in the shootout but missed it, leading to a 5-4 defeat for Serbia and denying them qualification for the tournament. On March 27, 2021, he scored Serbia's first goal in a 2-2 draw with Portugal, thereby surpassing the previous record of 38 goals held by Stjepan Bobek, and becoming the highest goalscorer in the history of the national side.
On November 14, 2021, Mitrović scored a last-minute winner against Portugal, sending Serbia to the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 win. In November 2022, he was selected for Serbia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He played in all three group stage matches, against Brazil, Cameroon, and Switzerland. He scored against both Cameroon and Switzerland as Serbia finished fourth in Group G.
Mitrović was part of the Serbia squad for UEFA Euro 2024 and started the team's opening match against England, captaining the team in the 1-0 loss in Gelsenkirchen. He also played in group stage matches against Slovenia and Denmark, with Serbia ultimately finishing fourth in the group.
4. Personal Life
Aleksandar Mitrović has two children with his partner, Kristina Janjić. He is a lifelong supporter of both Partizan and Newcastle United. His father once famously told him he would either be "a criminal or a kickboxer," underscoring his aggressive and determined playing style.
5. Career Statistics
Detailed statistical data of Aleksandar Mitrović's appearances and goals throughout his club and international career.
Updated: match played 17 January 2025
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Teleoptik | 2011-12 | Serbian First League | 25 | 7 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 26 | 7 | |||
| Partizan | 2012-13 | Serbian Superliga | 25 | 10 | 2 | 2 | - | 9 | 3 | - | 36 | 15 | ||
| 2013-14 | Serbian Superliga | 3 | 3 | - | - | 3 | 0 | - | 6 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 28 | 13 | 2 | 2 | - | 12 | 3 | - | 42 | 18 | ||||
| Anderlecht | 2013-14 | Belgian Pro League | 32 | 16 | 1 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 16 | |
| 2014-15 | Belgian Pro League | 37 | 20 | 6 | 4 | - | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 51 | 28 | ||
| Total | 69 | 36 | 7 | 4 | - | 13 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 44 | |||
| Newcastle United | 2015-16 | Premier League | 34 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 9 | ||
| 2016-17 | Championship | 25 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 29 | 6 | |||
| 2017-18 | Premier League | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 7 | 2 | |||
| Total | 65 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | - | - | 72 | 17 | ||||
| Fulham (loan) | 2017-18 | Championship | 17 | 12 | - | - | - | 3 | 0 | 20 | 12 | |||
| Fulham | 2018-19 | Premier League | 37 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 39 | 11 | ||
| 2019-20 | Championship | 40 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 41 | 26 | ||
| 2020-21 | Premier League | 27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 31 | 4 | |||
| 2021-22 | Championship | 44 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 46 | 43 | |||
| 2022-23 | Premier League | 24 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 15 | |||
| 2023-24 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 190 | 109 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | 4 | 0 | 206 | 111 | |||
| Al-Hilal | 2023-24 | Saudi Pro League | 28 | 28 | 5 | 4 | - | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 40 | |
| 2024-25 | Saudi Pro League | 13 | 12 | 3 | 0 | - | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 20 | ||
| Total | 41 | 40 | 8 | 4 | - | 16 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 67 | 60 | |||
| Career total | 418 | 219 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 41 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 506 | 257 | ||
Updated: match played 18 November 2024
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | 2013 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 5 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 13 | 12 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 11 | |
| 2020 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 8 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 2 | |
| Total | 98 | 59 | |
6. Honours
Aleksandar Mitrović has accumulated numerous team titles and individual accolades throughout his professional career.
6.1. Club
- Serbian SuperLiga: 2012-13 (with Partizan)
- Belgian Pro League: 2013-14 (with Anderlecht)
- Belgian Super Cup: 2014 (with Anderlecht)
- EFL Championship: 2016-17 (with Newcastle United), 2021-22 (with Fulham)
- EFL Championship play-offs: 2018, 2020 (with Fulham)
- Saudi Pro League: 2023-24 (with Al-Hilal)
- King's Cup: 2023-24 (with Al-Hilal)
- Saudi Super Cup: 2023, 2024 (with Al-Hilal)
6.2. International
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2013 (with Serbia U19)
6.3. Individual
- Serbian SuperLiga Team of the Season: 2012-13
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Golden Player: 2013
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2013
- Belgian Pro League top scorer: 2014-15
- EFL Championship Player of the Month: March 2018, April 2018, October 2019, October 2021
- Serbian Footballer of the Year: 2018, 2022, 2023
- UEFA Nations League top scorer: 2018-19, 2022-23
- Fulham Player of the Year: 2019-20, 2021-22
- PFA Team of the Year: 2019-20 Championship, 2021-22 Championship
- EFL Championship Golden Boot: 2019-20, 2021-22
- PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2021-22 Championship
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2021-22
- EFL Championship Player of the Season: 2021-22
- Saudi Pro League Player of the Month: September 2024
- King's Cup top scorer: 2023-24
7. Controversies
During his career, Aleksandar Mitrović has been involved in several disciplinary incidents, often stemming from his passionate and aggressive playing style.
One notable incident occurred on March 19, 2023, during Fulham's FA Cup quarter-final match against Manchester United. With Fulham leading 1-0, Mitrović was sent off after arguing with and pushing referee Chris Kavanagh following a handball decision that also saw teammate Willian and manager Marco Silva dismissed from the game. The red cards proved to be a turning point, as Manchester United scored from the resulting penalty and went on to win 3-1.
Mitrović was subsequently charged with violent and improper conduct by the Football Association. On April 4, he received an eight-game ban. The Football Association appealed the decision, arguing that the punishment was insufficient given Mitrović's conduct, but their appeal was rejected.