Kovačić started training with the club's senior squad under manager, Kovačić eventually had his professional league debut in the During his time with Dinamo, Kovačić won two domestic league titles and two Croatian Cup titles, appearing in a total of 73 official matches, including 12 appearances in the UEFA Champions League. Kovačić suffered a serious injury in 2009 in which his leg wa… In 2007, when Kovačić was 13, he was spotted by scouts from several prominent European clubs, including Ajax, Inter Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich, but his family opted to move to Zagreb instead, where he joined the academy of Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb. Born in Linz, Austria, to Bosnian Croat parents who had moved there from Kotor Varoš in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kovačić began playing at an early age at the local LASK Linz's academy. It was revealed the deal was worth €15 million in total, with €11 million paid immediately and €4 million when and if Inter qualifies for the Kovačić made his Inter Milan debut three days later on 3 February, coming on as a half-time substitute in a Kovačić made his first domestic league start for Inter in the next round of Serie A in a 1–4 away loss against Kovačić missed most of the pre-season training with the squad due to series of small injuries,After being subjected to persistent transfer speculation over the summer, in September 2014, Kovačić was offered a contract extension until 2019.Four days after his presentation, he made his debut as a 70th-minute substitute for Kovačić scored his first Liga goal on 29 January 2017 in a 3–0 win over On 1 July, Kovačić completed a permanent transfer to Chelsea, signing a five-year contract.Kovačić appeared for the Croatian national team at various youth levels, debuting in May 2008 in an under-14 friendly match against Slovakia.On 2 June 2014, Kovačić was confirmed as a member of Croatia's On 4 June 2018, Kovačić was selected in Croatia's 23-man squad for the Kovačić has been described as a great technician with excellent In 2017, he married his longtime girlfriend Izabel Andrijanić.
On 31 January 2013, Kovačić agreed to a transfer to Inter Milan.