Berat Djimsiti

Last updated

Berat Djimsiti
Berat Djimsiti 01 (cropped).JPG
Djimsiti with Atalanta in 2016
Personal information
Full name Berat Ridvan Djimsiti
Date of birth (1993-02-19) 19 February 1993 (age 32)
Place of birth Zürich, Switzerland
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [1]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Atalanta
Number 19
Youth career
–2007 FC Zürich-Affoltern
2007–2012 FC Zürich
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2009–2012 FC Zürich II 46 (6)
2011–2016 FC Zürich 110 (5)
2016– Atalanta 232 (5)
2016–2017 → Avellino (loan) 35 (0)
2017–2018 → Benevento (loan) 30 (0)
International career‡
2011 Switzerland U18 3 (0)
2011–2012 Switzerland U19 9 (0)
2013–2014 Switzerland U21 5 (0)
2015– Albania 69 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 November 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 November 2025

Berat Ridvan Djimsiti (Albanian : Gjimshiti; born 19 February 1993) [2] is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Atalanta. Born in Switzerland, he represented that nation at youth international levels but in 2015 switched to play for Albania national team, which he captains.

Contents

Club career

Early career and Zürich

Djimsiti began his youth career at FC Zürich-Affoltern, where he played until 2007 before joining the FC Zürich academy at the age of 14. [3]

He received his first call-up to the senior squad during the 2011–12 Swiss Super League season, appearing on the bench in a 2–1 win over Young Boys on 19 April 2011. [4] He was also part of the team for the UEFA Champions League play-off round match against Bayern Munich on 17 August 2011. [5]

Djimsiti made his professional debut on 3 March 2012 in a 0–1 loss to Sion, entering as an 84th-minute substitute for Heinz Barmettler. [6] He scored his first goal for Zürich on 20 May 2012 in a 0–1 away win over Grasshopper, starting the match and scoring in the 75th minute. [7] These two matches were his only appearances that season.

He established himself as a regular starter during the 2012–13 campaign.[ citation needed ]

Atalanta

On 18 January 2016, Djimsiti signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Serie A side Atalanta, taking the number 55 for the second part of 2015–16 season. [8] [9] He debuted on 3 May 2016 against Napoli in a 2–1 loss. [10]

Loan to Avellino

On 31 August 2016, Djimsiti was loaned out to Serie B side Avellino to gain more playing time. [11] [12]

Loan to Benevento

On 8 July 2017, Djimsiti moved on loan to new promoted Serie A side Benevento until the end of the season, [13] with buying option. [14]

Return to Atalanta

Djimsiti returned to Atalanta ahead of 2018–19 season, [15] playing his first match on 20 August in the 4–0 win against Frosinone. [16] He scored his first goal for Atalanta later on 11 November, heading home his side's third goal in a 4–1 home win over Inter Milan, which ended the visitors' six-match winning streak. [17] Since returning from his two loan spells, Djimsiti has established himself as a starting defender under Gian Piero Gasperini.

On 17 February 2022, Djimsiti scored a brace in the first leg of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off against Olympiacos, which Atalanta won 2–1. [18]

On 5 November 2025, Djimsiti made his 300th appearance for Atalanta in the 1–0 win over Marseille in the League phase of the UEFA Champions League. [19]

International career

Switzerland

Djimsiti became a youth national player of Switzerland as he was called up for the first time at Switzerland national under-18 team making his debut on 5 April 2011 in a friendly match and then played in other two matches.

Djimsiti was then called up from the Switzerland national under-19 team for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification and made his debut against Montenegro U19 on 5 June 2011, playing the full 90- minutes match in a 2–2 win. [20] Djimsiti also participated in the next tournament for U-19, the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship playing in all six matches.

Following his good performances at U-19 side, he became part of the Switzerland national under-21 team. He participated in two consecutive UEFA European Under-21 Championship, in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship where he was called up in four occasions, remaining in all as an unused substitute and the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship playing in two out six matches. [21]

Albania

In September 2014, Swiss media reported Djimsiti would soon receive a call-up from Albania. [22] The news was confirmed by Djimsiti himself, who explained that he had been contacted by the Albanian coach, Gianni De Biasi. [23] In September 2014 he refused also Kosovo, letting them know that he intended to play for Albania. [24] On 20 September 2014, procedures to give him the Albanian citizenship were started. [25] He received the Albanian citizenship on 15 July 2015 by the president of Albania, Bujar Nishani, along with two other Albanian footballers, the twin brothers part of the fellow Swiss club Basel, Albian Ajeti and Adonis Ajeti. [26] In July 2015 Djimsiti confirmed definitively that he had decided to play for Albania. [27] [28] On 27 August 2015 Djimsiti among two other Albanian descents players which switched from Swiss youth international footballers to Albanian international footballers, Arlind Ajeti and Naser Aliji, received the go ahead from FIFA which allowed them to play for Albania also in the competitive matches such as the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying. [29]

Debut and UEFA Euro 2016 campaign

Since he became eligible to represent Albania in international competitive level, Djimsiti received his first call-up at Albania by coach Gianni De Biasi for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Denmark and Portugal on 4 and 7 September 2015 respectively. [30] He made it his first international debut with Albania on 4 September 2015 against Denmark playing as a right back due to the absence of the injured Elseid Hysaj and completed the full 90 minutes helping Albania take one point with a goalless draw. [31] He was called up for the next UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group I matches against Serbia and Armenia on 8 and 11 October 2015 respectively. [32] He played as a centre back among Captain Lorik Cana in both matches and on 11 October against Armenia he scored his first goal in the 23rd minute following a cross from Ledian Memushaj by a free kick from the left side. [33]

On 21 May 2016, Djimsiti was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016, [34] but was left out of final 23-man UEFA Euro 2016 squad on 31 May. [35]

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

He was returned to Albania national team by same coach Gianni De Biasi receiving a call up for the friendly match against Morocco on 31 August 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification opening match against Macedonia on 5 September 2016. [36]

Personal life

Djimsiti was born in Zurich, Switzerland to an ethnic Albanian family from the village of Tërnoc i Madh near Bujanoc, and is part of the Albanian minority in Serbia. [37] Since 2012, he has been in a relationship with Serbian model Alisa Menković; the couple married in 2020 and have three children. [38]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 November 2025 [21] [39] [40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Zürich U212009–10 Swiss Promotion League 30———30
2010–11275———275
2011–12161———161
Total466———466
FC Zürich 2010–11 Swiss Super League 10———10
2011–12 21—00—21
2012–13 34050——390
2013–14 261302 [b] 0—311
2014–15 332307 [b] 1—433
2015–16 151302 [b] 0—201
Total1115140111—1366
Atalanta 2015–16 Serie A 30———30
2018–19 241401 [b] 0—291
2019–20 342106 [c] 0—412
2020–21 330518 [c] 0—461
2021–22 311109 [d] 2—413
2022–23 24020——260
2023–24 3705012 [b] 1—541
2024–25 341209 [c] 12 [e] 0472
2025–26 110005 [c] 0—160
Total23252015042030410
Avellino (loan) 2016–17 Serie B 35000——350
Benevento (loan) 2017–18 Serie A30000——300
Career total453153416152055121
  1. ↑ Includes Swiss Cup and Coppa Italia
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ↑ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance in Supercoppa Italiana

International

As of match played 16 November 2025 [39] [41]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania 201561
201660
201720
201870
201980
202060
202190
202240
202370
202460
202580
Total691
As of match played 11 October 2015 [41]
Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Djimsiti goal.
List of international goals scored by Berat Djimsiti
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
111 October 2015 Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia4Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 2–03–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

Honours

FC Zürich

Atalanta

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Berat Djimsiti". Atalanta BC. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "Berat Djimsiti - Atalanta Defender". ESPN. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  3. ↑ Portrait Archived 14 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine at FC Zürich website
  4. ↑ Zürich vs. Young Boys - 19 April 2011 - Soccerway
  5. ↑ Bayern München vs. Zürich - 17 August 2011 - Soccerway
  6. ↑ Zürich vs. Sion - 3 March 2012 - Soccerway
  7. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Zürich - 20 May 2012 - Soccerway
  8. ↑ "Official: Atalanta sign Djimsiti". Football Italia. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Zyrtare, Berat Gjimshiti nënshkruan me Atalantën" (in Albanian). Football Italia. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Berat Xhimshiti debuton ne Seria A" [Berat Djimsiti debuts in Serie A] (in Albanian). AlbaniaSoccer. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  11. ↑ Alfred Lleshi (31 August 2016). "Djimsiti huazohet tek Avellino, ja dy skuadrat që refuzoi" [Djimsiti on loan at Avellino, here are the two teams he rejected] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Mercato, Avellino scatenato: ufficiale il prestito di Djimsiti" (in Italian). Articalab.it. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Zyrtare/ Gjimshiti transferohet te Benevento" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "BERAT DJIMSITI AL BENEVENTO" (in Italian). Atalanta B.C. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "Gjimshiti në rrugën e duhur, Atalanta gati t'i rinovojë kontratën" [Djimsiti in the right path, Atalanta ready to renew his contract] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  16. ↑ "Atalanta vs. Frosinone 4 – 0". Soccerway. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  17. ↑ "Inter stunned 4-1 at Atalanta to end 6-match winning streak". Fox Sports. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  18. ↑ Campanale, Susy (17 February 2022). "Europa League | Atalanta 2–1 Olympiacos: Djimsiti double avoids Greek tragedy". Football Italia. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "Djimsiti nel club dei giocatori 300 volte in campo con la Dea" (in Italian). Zonamiste Magazine. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Montenegro U19 vs. Switzerland U19 – 5 June 2011. Soccerway.
  21. 1 2 Berat Djimsiti at Soccerway . Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  22. ↑ Bald besser als unsere Nati?. Blick.
  23. ↑ De Biazi fton Berat Xhimshitin në Kombëtare. Panorama Sport.
  24. ↑ Berat Xhimshiti te Shqipëria, konfirmimi nga Kosova. Archived 17 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine . Albeu.com.
  25. ↑ B.Xhimshiti kuqezi, nisin dhe procedurat. Panorama Sport.
  26. ↑ Shtohet "familja" kuqezi. Archived 17 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine . Sportal.al.
  27. ↑ Xhimshiti sqaron zvicerianët: Ja pse zgjodha Shqipërinë! Panorama Sport.
  28. ↑ FCZ Profis | News | Berat Djimsiti entscheidet sich für die albanische Nationalmannschaft. FC Zürich.
  29. ↑ Xhimshiti, Ajeti e Aliji marrin lejen e FIFA-s. Panorama Sport.
  30. ↑ LISTA DEI CONVOCATI PER LA DOPPIA SFIDA CONTRO DANIMARCA E PORTOGALLO. GianniDeBiasi.it.
  31. ↑ Denmark vs. Albania – 4 September 2015. Soccerway.
  32. ↑ De Biasi publikon listën e lojtarëve kundër Serbisë e Armenisë. minuta90.com.
  33. ↑ UEFA EURO 2016 – Matches. UEFA.com.
  34. ↑ Fatjon Pandovski (21 May 2016). "De Biasi leaves out Albanian top scorer Salihi". UEFA. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "De Biasi shpall listën zyrtare të Euro 2016". FSHF.org. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  36. ↑ "De Biasi: Duhet të japim 101 % të mundësive tona" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 29 August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  37. ↑ ""Topii Artë"/ Berat Gjimshiti nga Tërnoci i Luginës së Preshevës". HelveticalForum.ch (in Albanian). 27 January 2025.
  38. ↑ "The Serbian girlfriend of the Albanian footballer (Photo)". Telegrafi. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  39. 1 2 "Berat Djimsiti". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  40. ↑ Berat Djimsiti – UEFA competition record (archive)
  41. 1 2 "Berat Djimsiti - national football team player". EU-football.info.
  42. ↑ "Atalanta 3-0 Leverkusen: Lookman treble brings UEFA Europa League glory to Bergamo". UEFA . Union of European Football Associations. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  43. ↑ "2023/24 UEFA Europa League Team of the Season". UEFA . Union of European Football Associations. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.