Hajdin Salihu

Hajdin Salihu

Personal information
Full name	Hajdin Salihu
Date of birth	(2002-01-18) 18 January 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Podujevo, FR Yugoslavia (modern Kosovo)
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	LNZ Cherkasy
Number	5
Youth career
0000	Besiana
0000–2018	Kurda Football School
2018–2021	Llapi
2020–2021	→ Lokomotiva (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Llapi	12	(0)
2020–2021	→ Lokomotiva (loan)	3	(0)
2021–2023	Lokomotiva	11	(0)
2022	→ Laçi (loan)	0	(0)
2023–2024	Drita	16	(0)
2024–	LNZ Cherkasy	28	(3)
International career‡
2018	Kosovo U17	3	(0)
2019	Kosovo U19	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 February 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 March 2021

Hajdin Salihu (born 18 January 2002) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ukrainian Premier League club LNZ Cherkasy. ^[1]

Club career

Early career and Llapi

Salihu is a product of the two most famous football schools in Kosovo, Besiana and Kurda. On 19 June 2018, he joined Football Superleague of Kosovo side Llapi, ^[2] and received squad number 15. ^[3] On 1 November 2019, he made his debut in a 1–0 home win against Drenica after being named in the starting line-up. ^[4]

Lokomotiva

Period on loan

On 18 October 2020, Salihu joined Croatian First League side Lokomotiva, on a season-long loan. ^[5] On 27 February 2021, he was named as a Lokomotiva substitute for the first time in a league match against Šibenik. ^[6] His debut with Lokomotiva came fourteen days later in a 0–0 home draw against Istra 1961 after being named in the starting line-up. ^[7]

Return as a permanent player

On 9 July 2021, Salihu signed a two-year contract with Croatian First League club Lokomotiva, transfer which was officially confirmed seventeen days later. ^[8] Eight days later, he was named as a Lokomotiva substitute for the first time in a league match against Hajduk Split. ^[9]

Short-time loan at Laçi and return from loan

On 17 January 2022, Salihu joined Kategoria Superiore side Laçi, on a season-long loan. ^[10] Five days later, he was named as a Laçi substitute for the first time in a league match against Teuta Durrës. ^[11] On 10 February 2022, Salihu returned from loan to replace one of Lokomotiva's injured defenders. ^[12] Two days later, he played the first game after the return against Istra 1961 after being named in the starting line-up. ^[13]

Drita

In June 2023, Salihu joined Kosovan club Drita, starting from 1 July 2023. He signed a contract until 30 June 2026. ^[14]

International career

Kosovo

Salihu represented Kosovo U17 in the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifications, helping Kosovo top their group in the qualifying round. ^[15] He also represented Kosovo at U19 and U21 level with the latter was part in two 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches as an unused substitute.

Albania

On 16 March 2021, Lokomotiva through a communiqué stated that Salihu switched his allegiance to Albania U21 and received the call-up for the March gathering. ^[16] On 20 March 2021, he received a call-up from Albania U21 for a training camp held from 22 to 30 March 2021 and for unofficial friendly match against Tirana and Bylis. ^[17]

References

1. Hajdin Salihu at Soccerway
2. "Zyrtare: Hajdin Salihu nënshkruan me KF Llapin" [Official: Hajdin Salihu signs with KF Llapi] (in Albanian). KF Llapi. 19 June 2018.
3. "Lista zyrtare e futbollistëve dhe stafit për edicionin e ri" [Official list of players and staff for the new edition] (in Albanian). KF Llapi. 17 August 2018.
4. "Raporti – Java XIII: Llapi – Drenica 1–0" [Report – Week XIII: Llapi – Drenica 1–0] (in Albanian). KF Llapi. 1 November 2019.
5. "Hajdin Salihu i Llapit huazohet te Lokomotiva e Zagrebit" [Hajdin Salihu of Llapi is loaned to Lokomotiva Zagreb]. Llapi.info (in Albanian). 18 October 2020.
6. "Šibenik – Lokomotiva 0:0" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. 27 February 2021.
7. "Lokomotiva – Istra 0:1" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. 13 March 2021.
8. "Futbollisti i Llapit transferohet tek Lokomotiva e Zagrebit" [Llapi's footballer is transferred to Lokomotiva Zagreb]. Gazeta Olle (in Albanian). 26 July 2021.
9. "Lokomotiva – Hajduk 2:2" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. 17 July 2021.
10. "Përforcohet Laçi, një sulmues dhe një mbrojtës vihen nën urdhrat e Josës" [Laçi is reinforced, an attacker and a defender are placed under Josa's orders] (in Albanian). ABC News Albania. 17 January 2022.
11. "Teuta Durrës vs. Laçi 2–4". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
12. "Ndryshim planesh, huazimi i Laçit kthehet te Lokomotiva Zagreb, ja arsyeja" [Change of plans, Laçi's loan is returned to Lokomotiva Zagreb, here is the reason] (in Albanian). ABC News Albania. 10 February 2022.
13. "Lokomotiva–Istra 1:1" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. 12 February 2022.
14. "Zyrtare: Drita transferon Hajdin Salihun" [Official: Drita transfers Hajdin Salihu] (in Albanian). Telegrafi . Retrieved 3 August 2023.
15. "Kombëtarja U17 arrin sukses historik, kalon në rrethin elitar" [The national U17 team achieves historic success, passes to the elite circle] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 1 November 2018.
16. "Salihu pozvan u U21 reprezentaciju Albanije" [Salihu invited to the U21 national team of Albania] (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. 16 March 2021.
17. "Shpresat nisin grumbullimin, Bushi: Optimist për këtë Kombëtare" [Hopes start piling up, Bushi: Optimistic about this national team] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 20 March 2021.