Dijar Nikqi

Last updated

Dijar Nikqi
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-10-20) 20 October 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Peja, Kosovo under UN administration
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-forward
Team information
Current team
Liria Prizren
Number 27
Youth career
2 Korriku
–2020 Futastic Football School
2020–2021 Laçi
2021–2022 Akademia e Futbollit
2022–2023 Tirana
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2024 Tirana 39 (6)
2023–2024Teuta (loan) 3 (0)
2024–2025 Vora 8 (0)
2025– Liria Prizren 11 (2)
International career
2020 Kosovo U16 1 (0)
2021 Albania U18 1 (0)
2021–2023 Albania U21 5 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 March 2023

Dijar Nikqi (born 20 October 2004) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Kosovo First League club Liria Prizren.

Contents

Club career

Early career and Laçi

Nikqi is a product of youth team systems of the different Kosovan and Albanian sides. In the summer 2020 transfer window, he joined with Kategoria Superiore club Laçi. [1] His debut with Laçi came on 1 November in the 2020–21 Albanian Cup first round against Vora after coming on as a substitute in the 57th minute in place of Kyrian Nwabueze. [2]

Akademia e Futbollit

At the start of January 2021, Nikqi joined with Albanian club Akademia e Futbollit. His debut with Akademia e Futbollit came on 9 January in a 2020–21 Albanian U19 Cup match against Butrinti after being named in the starting line-up and scored his side's three goals during a 3–2 away win. [3]

Tirana

At the start of January 2022, Nikqi joined with Kategoria Superiore club Tirana. His debut with Tirana came on 20 February against Kastrioti after coming on as a substitute in the 82nd minute in place of Redon Xhixha and scored his side's only goal during a 1–2 away defeat. [4] [5]

Loan to Teuta

In August 2023, Nikqi was sent on a six-month-long loan to Kategoria Superiore club Teuta, to replace the departed Lorenco Vila as the first choice. [6] His debut with Teuta came on 2 September against his parent club Tirana after coming on as a substitute at 68th minute in place of Ergys Peposhi. [7]

Vora

On 8 August 2024, Nikqi joined Kategoria e Parë side Vora. [8] On 31 August 2024, he was named as a Vora substitute for the first time in a league match against Kukësi. [9] His debut with Vora came twelve days later against Flamurtari after coming on as a substitute at 69th minute in place of Manfredas Ruzgis. [10]

Liria Prizren

On 19 January 2025, Nikqi joined Kosovo First League club Liria Prizren. [11]

International career

On 21 July 2018, Nikqi was selected by the Peja selection of Kosovo U15. [12] In October 2020, he received the Albanian passport and this paved the way for him to represent Albania. [13] On 5 August 2021, Nikqi received a call-up from Albania U18 for the friendly match against Italy U18, [14] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up. Twenty-two days later, he received a call-up from Albania U21 for the UEFA Euro 2023 qualification match against Czech Republic, [15] and made his debut after coming on as a substitute in the 46th minute in place of Bernard Karrica. [16]

Honours

Club

Tirana

References

  1. "Nga Sherri te Mazrekaj, sa shumë afrime në merkato për Laçin" [From Sherri to Mazrekaj, how many approaches in the market for Laçi] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 August 2020.
  2. "Laçi vs. Vora 3–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. "KF Butrinti 2:3 Akademia e Futbollit" (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 9 January 2021.
  4. "Kastrioti Krujë vs. Tirana 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  5. "Ishte në provë te Hellas Verona dhe është pjesë e Kombëtares U21, njihuni me talentin 17-vjeçar që debutoi me gol te Tirana" [He was on trials at Hellas Verona and is part of the national U21 team, meet the 17-year-old talent who debuted with a goal in Tirana]. Newsport.al (in Albanian). 20 February 2022.
  6. "EKSKLUZIVE/ Teuta "zëvendëson" Lorenco Vilën me talentin e Tiranës" [EXCLUSIVE/ Teuta "replaces" Lorenco Vila with the talent from Tirana]. Newsport.al (in Albanian). 16 August 2023.
  7. "Teuta Durrës vs. Tirana 2–2". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  8. "Dijar Nikqi goditja e radhës" [Dijar Nikqi next shot]. Facebook (in Albanian). KF Vora. 8 August 2024. [self-published]
  9. "Vora vs. Kukësi 2–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  10. "Flamurtari vs. Vora 3–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  11. "Dijar Nikqi, përforcim i radhës te Liria" [Dijar Nikqi, the next reinforcement for Liria]. TopSporti.com (in Albanian). 19 January 2025.
  12. "Filloi Kampi Jubilar Kombëtar për U-15" [The National Jubilee Camp for U-15 started] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 July 2018.
  13. "Ekskluzive/Fabrika e qokave: 382 të huajt që morën shtetësi shqiptare nga Meta në emër të 'interesit kombëtar' pa u verifikuar për sigurinë! Ja emrat" [Exclusive/Gift Factory: 382 foreigners who received Albanian citizenship from Meta in the name of 'national interest' without being verified for security! Here are the names]. Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). 14 October 2020.
  14. "U-18/Edhe Behari publikon listën për ndeshjen ndaj Italisë" [U-18/Behari also publishes the list for the match against Italy] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 5 August 2021.
  15. "EURO 2023 për moshën U-21/Trajneri Bushi zbardh listën për ndeshjen ndaj Çekisë" [EURO 2023 for the age of U-21/Coach Bush whitens the list for the match against Czechia] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 27 August 2021.
  16. "Czech Republic U21 vs. Albania U21 4–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 September 2021.