Arbenit Xhemajli (born 23 April 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Albanian club Egnatia. Born in Switzerland, he represents Kosovo at international level.

Arbenit Xhemajli
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-04-23) 23 April 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Brugg, Switzerland[1]
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Egnatia
Number 19
Youth career
2015–2016 Zürich
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Zürich U21 13 (0)
2017–2020 Neuchâtel Xamax 46 (2)
2020–2022 Sunderland 3 (0)
2022–2023 Vaduz 21 (2)
2023– Egnatia 25 (0)
International career
2018–2019 Kosovo U21 6 (1)
2019 Kosovo 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2019

Club career edit

Neuchâtel Xamax edit

On 3 July 2017, Xhemajli joined Swiss Challenge League side Neuchâtel Xamax.[2] On 12 August 2017, he made his debut in a 0–21 away deep win in the 2017–18 Swiss Cup first round against Montfaucon after being named in the starting line-up.[3]

Sunderland edit

On 4 September 2020, Xhemajli signed a two-year contract with EFL League One club Sunderland.[4] Four days later, he made his debut in 2020–21 EFL Trophy group stage against Aston Villa U21 after being named in the starting line-up.[5] On 15 October 2020, it was announced that Xhemajli would be ruled out for the rest of the 2020–21 season after sustaining a knee injury on international duty.[6]

Vaduz edit

On 5 August 2022, Xhemajli signed a two-year contract with Swiss Challenge League club Vaduz.[7] Nine days later, he made his debut in a 2–4 home defeat against Thun after being named in the starting line-up.[8]

International career edit

Youth edit

At the start of April 2013, Xhemajli received a call-up from Albania U15 for a selection camp in Switzerland.[9] On 14 March 2018, Xhemajli received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Azerbaijan U21 and Germany U21.[10] His debut with Kosovo U21 came eight days later in a 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification against Azerbaijan U21 after coming on as a substitute at 81st minute in place of the injured Besfort Kolgeci.[11]

Senior edit

On 23 May 2018, Xhemajli received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Albania,[12] he was an unused substitute in that match. His debut with Kosovo came on 10 October 2019 in a friendly match against Gibraltar after being named in the starting line-up.[13]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of 14 August 2022[14]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Zürich U21 2016–17 1. Liga Promotion 13 0 0 0 13 0
Neuchâtel Xamax 2017–18 Swiss Challenge League 6 0 1 0 7 0
2018–19 Swiss Super League 17 0 2 0 19 0
2019–20 23 2 2 0 25 2
Total 59 2 5 0 64 2
Sunderland 2020–21 League One 0 0 0 0 3[a] 0 3 0
2021–22 3 0 0 0 7[b] 1 10 1
Total 3 0 0 0 10 1 13 1
Vaduz 2022–23 Swiss Challenge League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 63 2 5 0 0 0 10 1 78 3
  1. ^ One appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in Premier League 2 with Sunderland U23
  2. ^ One appearances in EFL Trophy, six appearances and one goal in Premier League 2 with Sunderland U23

International edit

As of 10 October 2019[15]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Kosovo 2019 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours edit

Sunderland

References edit

  1. ^ Arbenit Xhemajli at WorldFootball.net  
  2. ^ "Arbenit Xhemajli rejoint Xamax" [Arbenit Xhemajli joins Xamax] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax FCS. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  3. ^ "FC Union-Sportive Montfaucon (0:21) Neuchâtel Xamax FCS" (in German). Swiss Football Association. 12 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Xhemajli signs for Sunderland". Sunderland A.F.C. 4 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Sunderland 8–1 Aston Villa U21s". Sunderland A.F.C. 8 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Xhemajli ruled out of campaign". Sunderland A.F.C. 15 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Neuer Innenverteidiger für den FC Vaduz" [New central defender for FC Vaduz] (in German). FC Vaduz. 5 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Spielbericht: FC Vaduz vs. FC Thun Berner Oberland 2:4" [Match report: FC Vaduz vs. FC Thun Bernese Oberland 2:4] (in German). FC Vaduz. 14 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Seleksionimi i Zvicres" [Swiss selection] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. April 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Prekazi publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet me Azerbejxhanin dhe Gjermaninë" [Prekazi publishes the list of footballers for matches with Azerbaijan and Germany] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 14 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Kosova U21 e mrekullueshme, e mposht Azerbajxhanin" [The wonderful Kosovo U21 defeats Azerbaijan] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 22 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Kosova publikon listën e futbollistëve të ftuar për miqësoret me Shqipërinë dhe Bregun e Fildishtë" [Kosovo publishes the list of footballers invited for friendlies with Albania and Ivory Coast] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 23 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Kosova vs. Gjibraltari, 11-shet startuese" [Kosovo vs. Gibraltar, the starting 11]. TopSporti (in Albanian). 10 October 2019.
  14. ^ Arbenit Xhemajli at Soccerway  
  15. ^ "Arbenit Xhemajli". eu-football.info. 10 October 2019.
  16. ^ Paddy, Chris (21 May 2022). "Sunderland 2–0 Wycombe". BBC Sport.

External links edit