Jefferson Lerma in 2026: Net worth and Salary, Age, Wife, Injury, Transfer values, and FAQs

Early Life and Background

Jefferson Andrés Lerma Solís was born on 25 October 1994 in El Cerrito, a small town in the Valle del Cauca region of Colombia. He grew up in a working-class family that later moved to Neiva, in the Huila department, which is where his football career really took shape. His parents, Aldemar Lerma and Miriam Solís, raised him in a household where discipline and hard work were not optional, and that mindset still shows in the way he plays today.

Lerma joined the youth setup of Atlético Huila as a teenager and broke into the senior side in 2013, when he was only 18. His first professional goal, scored in February 2014, also happened to be the 1,000th goal in Atlético Huila's club history, which made it a moment the local fans still talk about.

Jefferson Lerma Age in 2026

As of 2026, Jefferson Lerma is 31 years old. He celebrates his birthday on 25 October every year. He is still very much in his prime as a defensive midfielder, although at this stage of his career, clubs and managers are starting to think about long-term squad planning around him.

Ethnicity and Nationality

Lerma is Colombian by nationality and identifies as Afro-Colombian, with mixed Latin American heritage that is common in the Valle del Cauca region. The Cauca Valley has produced some of Colombia's most respected footballers over the years, and Lerma is part of that proud line. He has always spoken warmly about his roots, his hometown, and the people who supported him when he was just another kid chasing a dream.

Parents and Family

Jefferson's father is Aldemar Lerma and his mother is Miriam Solís. He has always credited both of them for the values that shaped him, especially the idea that nothing in life comes easy. In interviews, he has talked openly about how hard his parents worked to give him a shot at football, and how he tries to repay that by staying grounded.

He has siblings, although they tend to stay out of the public eye, which is something Lerma himself respects. Whenever he gets a long break, he tries to fly back to Colombia to spend time with family, a habit that has not changed even after years living in Europe.

Wife and Personal Life

Jefferson Lerma is married to Karoll Osorio, his long-time partner from Colombia. The couple have three children together, two sons and a daughter named Sharon. The family currently lives in England, partly because Karoll wanted the children to grow up as native English speakers and to have access to schools and opportunities in the United Kingdom.

Lerma has spoken before about the sacrifice that came with chasing his football dream, including missing the birth of his first child while away with Colombia's under-23 squad before the 2016 Olympics. It is the kind of story you do not hear often, and it shows just how much he gave up early in his career.

Career Journey: From Huila to Crystal Palace

Lerma's career has followed a clean, steady path. He started at Atlético Huila in Colombia, made his name there, and earned a move to Spain with Levante in 2015, first on loan and then permanently in 2016. He spent three seasons in Spain, where he learned to play against top-level opposition in La Liga.

In August 2018, AFC Bournemouth signed him for around €30 million, which was a club-record fee for them at the time. He spent five seasons on the south coast of England, becoming a fan favourite and even winning their Player of the Year award in his final season.

In the summer of 2023, he joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer. It turned out to be one of the smartest free signings the club has made in recent memory. Under Oliver Glasner, he became a key part of the squad that won the FA Cup in May 2025, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final, and then lifted the FA Community Shield later that year. By Icon Polls' count, those are the two biggest trophies of his career so far.

Jefferson Lerma Net Worth and Salary in 2026

Icon Polls estimates that Jefferson Lerma's net worth in 2026 sits between $15 million and $17 million. This figure comes from years of Premier League wages, his record transfer to Bournemouth in 2018, endorsement deals, and earnings from international football with Colombia.

At Crystal Palace, his current contract pays him around £70,000 per week, which works out to roughly £3.6 million per year before tax, bonuses, and image-rights payments. Over the three years of his current deal, that adds up to roughly £10.9 million in total guaranteed earnings. He is not the highest-paid player in the Palace squad, but he is firmly in the senior wage bracket alongside the club's most experienced names.

Transfer Values Over the Years

Lerma's transfer story is one of the more interesting ones in recent Premier League history because it includes both a club-record move and a free transfer that ended up being a steal.

2015: Atlético Huila to Levante on loan, with the move made permanent in 2016 for around €600,000.

2018: Levante to AFC Bournemouth for a club-record fee of approximately €30 million.

2023: Bournemouth to Crystal Palace on a free transfer.

2026 market value: Around €8 million, reflecting his age and the time left on his contract.

Icon Polls' view is that his real value to Crystal Palace goes beyond what any transfer site lists. Experience, leadership, and versatility do not show up on a market-value chart, but they are exactly why the club has reportedly offered him a new contract.

Injury History

Lerma has had his share of muscle problems, especially in the thigh area. Over the years, he has missed games due to thigh injuries in 2023, 2024, and again briefly in early 2025 when an illness kept him out. He has also dealt with occasional ankle and groin issues earlier in his career.

Despite all that, he has never had a long-term, season-ending injury, which is rare for a midfielder who plays as physically as he does. His ability to recover quickly and stay available has been one of the quiet reasons managers keep trusting him.

Playing Style and What Makes Him Special

Lerma is the kind of player every team wishes they had two of. He is a defensive midfielder by trade, but he can slot into central defence without losing the rhythm of the team. He reads the game well, throws himself into challenges, and is brave enough to take responsibility when things are not going right.

With Colombia, he was a key part of the side that reached the 2024 Copa América final, scoring crucial goals in the group stage against Paraguay and in the semi-final against Uruguay. That tournament reminded everyone why his country still trusts him with big minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jefferson Lerma

1. How old is Jefferson Lerma in 2026?

Jefferson Lerma is 31 years old as of 2026. He was born on 25 October 1994.

2. Where was Jefferson Lerma born?

He was born in El Cerrito, a town in the Valle del Cauca region of Colombia. He later moved to Neiva, where he grew up and started his football career.

3. What is Jefferson Lerma's full name?

His full name is Jefferson Andrés Lerma Solís. The 'Solís' part comes from his mother's family name, which is standard in Spanish naming tradition.

4. Who are Jefferson Lerma's parents?

His father is Aldemar Lerma and his mother is Miriam Solís. He has spoken often about how grateful he is for their support during his early career.

5. What is Jefferson Lerma's ethnicity?

He is Afro-Colombian, with the mixed Latin American heritage that is common in Colombia's Pacific coast region. He is proud of his roots and speaks about them often.

6. Is Jefferson Lerma married?

Yes. He is married to Karoll Osorio, his long-time partner from Colombia. They have three children together.

7. How many children does Jefferson Lerma have?

He has three children, two sons and a daughter named Sharon. The family currently lives in England.

8. What is Jefferson Lerma's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth to be between $15 million and $17 million in 2026, based on his career earnings, transfer history, and endorsements.

9. How much does Jefferson Lerma earn at Crystal Palace?

He earns roughly £70,000 per week at Crystal Palace, which works out to about £3.6 million a year before bonuses and tax.

10. What is Jefferson Lerma's market value in 2026?

His current market value is estimated at around €8 million, although his real value to Crystal Palace, especially as a leader, is higher in practical terms.

11. Which club does Jefferson Lerma play for?

He plays for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League. He joined them on a free transfer from AFC Bournemouth in July 2023.

12. What position does Jefferson Lerma play?

He plays mainly as a defensive midfielder, but he can also play as a centre-back when his team needs him to.

13. How tall is Jefferson Lerma?

He stands at 1.79 metres tall, which is around 5 feet 10 inches.

14. Has Jefferson Lerma won any major trophies?

Yes. He won the FA Cup with Crystal Palace in May 2025 and the FA Community Shield later that same year. They are the two biggest trophies of his club career so far.

15. Has Jefferson Lerma played at the World Cup?

Yes. He was part of Colombia's squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he started the opening game against Japan and played in the Round of 16 loss to England on penalties.

16. Did Jefferson Lerma play in the 2024 Copa América?

Yes, and he was excellent. He scored against Paraguay in the group stage and headed home the winner in the semi-final against Uruguay. Colombia finished as runners-up, losing the final to Argentina.

17. How much did Bournemouth pay for Jefferson Lerma?

Bournemouth signed him from Levante in August 2018 for a club-record fee of around €30 million.

18. When does Jefferson Lerma's Crystal Palace contract expire?

His current contract runs until 30 June 2026. Reports in 2026 suggest Crystal Palace have offered him a new deal to stay for another two or three seasons.

19. Has Jefferson Lerma had serious injuries in his career?

He has dealt with several thigh and muscle injuries over the years, but nothing that has kept him out for an entire season. His durability is one of his quiet strengths.

20. What makes Jefferson Lerma special as a player?

His mix of toughness, tactical awareness, and versatility. He can win the ball back, defend like a centre-back when asked, and stay calm under pressure. Icon Polls rates him among the most reliable Colombian midfielders of his generation.