Arbenit Xhemajli

Arbenit Xhemajli

Personal information
Date of birth	(1998-04-23) 23 April 1998 (age 25)
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

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.

Club career

Neuchâtel Xamax

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

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

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

Youth

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

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

Club

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 [lower-alpha 1]	0	3	0
	2021–22		3	0	0	0	—		7 [lower-alpha 2]	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

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

Sunderland

• EFL League One play-offs: 2022 ^[16]

References

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

• Arbenit Xhemajli at National-Football-Teams.com
• Arbenit Xhemajli at Soccerway
• Arbenit Xhemajli – UEFA competition record ( archive )