Nedim Bajrami
{{short description|Albanian footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nedim Bajrami
| image =
| caption =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|2|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Zürich, Switzerland
| height = 1.81 m
| position = Attacking midfielder, winger
| currentclub = Rangers
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = 2009–2017
| youthclubs1 = Grasshoppers
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Grasshoppers U21
| caps1 = 14
| goals1 = 4
| years2 = 2017–2019
| clubs2 = Grasshoppers
| caps2 = 69
| goals2 = 6
| years3 = 2019–2023
| clubs3 = Empoli
| caps3 = 118
| goals3 = 17
| years4 = 2023–2024
| clubs4 = Sassuolo
| caps4 = 48
| goals4 = 3
| years5 =2024–
| clubs5 = Rangers
| caps5 = 23
| goals5 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = Switzerland U15
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2014
| nationalteam2 = Switzerland U16
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2015–2016
| nationalteam3 = Switzerland U17
| nationalcaps3 = 13
| nationalgoals3 = 5
| nationalyears4 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam4 = Switzerland U18
| nationalcaps4 = 4
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2016–2017
| nationalteam5 = Switzerland U19
| nationalcaps5 = 9
| nationalgoals5 = 3
| nationalyears6 = 2018–2021
| nationalteam6 = Switzerland U21
| nationalcaps6 = 11
| nationalgoals6 = 1
| nationalyears7 = 2021–
| nationalteam7 = Albania
| nationalcaps7 = 33
| nationalgoals7 = 6
| club-update = 15:57, 16 March 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 21 March 2025
}}
Nedim Bajrami (born 28 February 1999) is a footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Scottish Premiership club Rangers. Born in Switzerland, he plays for the Albania national team.
Club career
=Grasshoppers=
Born in Switzerland to ethnic Albanian parents (father from Tetovo and mother from Gostivar),{{cite web|url=http://www.infosport.mk/2021/03/09/dorezohen-zviceranet-tetovari-nedim-bajrami-zemra-ime-rrah-kuqezi/|language=sq|date=9 March 2021|access-date=11 June 2023|title=Dorëzohen Zviceranët, Tetovari Nedim Bajrami: Zemra Ime Rrah "Kuqezi"}}{{cite web|url=https://newsport.al/fotolajm-me-i-miri-ne-dy-ndeshjet-e-fundit-per-kombetaren-nedim-bajrami-pritet-si-hero-ne-tetove/|language=sq|date=1 July 2023|access-date=1 August 2023|title=Më i miri në dy ndeshjet e fundit për Kombëtaren, Nedim Bajrami pritet si hero në Tetovë}}{{cite web|url=https://sot.com.al/english/sport/kush-eshte-nedim-bajrami-24-vjecari-shqiptar-qe-refuzoi-te-zgjedhe-zvicren-i609965|date=8 September 2023|access-date=20 June 2024|title=Who is Nedim Bajrami, the 24-year-old Albanian who refused to choose Switzerland (he even fought)}} Bajrami spent all of his youth career with professional side Grasshoppers. He signed his first professional contract alongside teammates Petar Pušić and Arijan Qollaku in February 2017,{{cite web|url=http://www.fm1today.ch/harun-alpsoy-wechselt-in-die-tuerkei/413261 |title=Harun Alpsoy wechselt in die Türkei |date=1 February 2017 |accessdate=17 March 2017 |publisher=fm1today |language=German}} and made his debut the same month, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 loss to FC Thun.{{cite web|url=https://www.srf.ch/sport/fussball/super-league/geglueckte-und-gescheiterte-experimente-zum-rueckrunden-auftakt |title=Geglückte und gescheiterte Experimente zum Rückrunden-Auftakt |date=6 February 2017 |accessdate=17 March 2017 |publisher=srf.ch |language=German}}
=Empoli=
On 13 August 2019, Bajrami joined Italian Serie B club Empoli on loan with an option to buy.{{cite web|url=https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-b/ufficiale-empoli-dalla-svizzera-arriva-il-centrocampista-bajrami-1279659|access-date=1 August 2019|title=UFFICIALE: Empoli, dalla Svizzera arriva il centrocampista Bajrami}}
=Sassuolo=
On 31 January 2023, Bajrami moved to Sassuolo on loan with an obligation to buy.{{cite web|publisher=U.S. Sassuolo Calcio|url=https://www.sassuolocalcio.it/in-evidenza/calciomercato-nedim-bajrami-e-un-nuovo-calciatore-del-sassuolo/|title=NEDIM BAJRAMI È UN NUOVO CALCIATORE DEL SASSUOLO|date=31 January 2023|access-date=31 January 2023|language=it}}
=Rangers=
On 30 August 2024, Bajrami joined Rangers in Scotland.{{cite web|publisher=Rangers|url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/nedim-bajrami-joins-rangers-from-sassuolo/2m48vjHbFst9sN6s6ssyHS|title=Nedim Bajrami Joins Rangers From Sassuolo|date=30 August 2024|access-date=31 August 2024}} Bajrami scored his first Rangers goal in a 2-0 victory away at Malmö in matchday 1 of the UEFA Europa League on 26 September 2024. On 3 November 2024, Bajrami scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Motherwell in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup. On 15 December 2024, he scored Rangers opening goal in the League Cup final.
International career
Bajrami represented Switzerland in various youth sides up to under-21 level. He played for the Switzerland U17 team in their unsuccessful European Under-17 Championship qualification bid in 2016, featuring in all their six games.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/teams/players/250089373--nedim-bajrami/ |title=Nedim Bajrami |access-date=17 March 2017 |work=UEFA}} He scored a total of five goals for the under-17 side, including a brace against Montenegro in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.football.ch/sfv/nationalteams/u-17/statistik-und-resultate.aspx/tg-2587178 |title=Statistik und Resultate |date=19 August 2015 |accessdate=17 March 2017 |work=Swiss Football Association |language=German}} On 9 March 2021, Switzerland's U-21 manager Mauro Lustrinelli confirmed that Bajrami chose to switch allegiances and represent his country of origin, Albania.{{cite web|url=https://www.blick.ch/sport/fussball/nati/kurz-vor-em-gibt-bajrami-der-nati-einen-korb-albanien-klaut-uns-u21-juwel-id16389925.html |title=Kurz vor EM gibt Bajrami der Nati einen Korb Albanien klaut uns unser U21-Juwel |date=9 March 2021 |accessdate=9 March 2021 |work=Blick |language=German}} Mauro stated “We tried to convince Bajrami to continue playing for Switzerland but he told us that his heart beats for Albania. For us in the national team, identification is one of the main values, so we had no choice but to let him leave.”{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5570314/2024/06/18/nedim-bajrami-albania-fifa-court/ |title=Nedim Bajrami, the Euro 2024 record-breaker who went to court to play for Albania |accessdate=20 June 2024 |work=NY Times |last1=Miller |first1=Nick }}
On 17 March 2021, he received Albanian citizenship, thus needing only a permission by FIFA to become eligible to play for the Albania national team.{{cite web|url=https://qbz.gov.al/eli/dekret/2021/03/17/12024|title=Dekret për dhënie të shtetësisë shqiptare nr. 12024|trans-title=Decree on granting Albanian citizenship no. 12024|publisher=qbz.gov.al|language=sq|date=17 March 2021|access-date=19 January 2023}} He received the go-ahead from the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 30 August 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.vizionplus.tv/nedim-bajrami-zyrtarisht-pjese-e-shqiperise-kas-jep-vendimin/|title=Nedim Bajrami zyrtarisht pjesë e Shqipërisë, KAS jep vendimin|trans-title=Nedim Bajrami officially part of albania, CAS gives decision|publisher=Vizion Plus|language=sq|date=30 August 2021|access-date=20 January 2023}} He debuted with Albania in a 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification victory against Hungary on 5 September 2021, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute for Qazim Laçi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/282685/282687/400155542|title=Albania 1–0 Hungary - FIFA World Cup Qualifier|website=fifa.com|date=5 September 2021|access-date=19 January 2023}} On 17 June 2023, he scored his first goal for Albania in a 2–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying win over Moldova.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/655313/moldova-albania|title=Albania 2–0 Moldova (Jun 17, 2023)|publisher=ESPN|date=17 June 2023|access-date=16 June 2024}}
In June 2024, Bajrami was called up to represent Albania at UEFA Euro 2024.{{cite news |date=8 June 2024 |title=Trajneri Silvinjo publikon listën e Kombëtares me emrat e 26 lojtarëve për Kampionatin Europian "Gjermani 2024" |trans-title=Coach Sylvinho publishes the national team list with the names of 26 players for the European Championship "Germany 2024" |url=https://fshf.org/sq/trajneri-silvinjo-publikon-listen-e-kombetares-me-emrat-e-26-lojtareve-per-kampionatin-europian-gjermani-2024/ |language=sq |publisher=Albanian Football Association |access-date=8 June 2024}} In their opening group stage match against defending champions Italy, Bajrami scored the fastest goal in UEFA European Championship history, only 23 seconds into the match, in an eventual 2–1 loss.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-15 |title=Who scored the fastest goals at UEFA European Championship final tournaments? |url=https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/0253-0d7dce47a88e-fed163e1fdf2-1000--who-scored-the-fastest-goals-at-uefa-european-championsh/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=UEFA |language=en}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 16 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|nedim-bajrami/426998|access-date=26 September 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Swiss Cup, Coppa Italia, Scottish Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Grasshoppers U21
|rowspan="3"|Swiss 1. Liga |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17
|12 | 4 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | |||
| 2017–18
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 | |
| rowspan="5"|Grasshoppers
|rowspan="4"|Swiss Super League |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18
|29 | 3 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19
|33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 35 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!69 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 6 | |
| Empoli (loan)
|28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1{{efn|name=PO|Appearance in Serie B promotion play-offs}} | 0 | 30 | 5 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Empoli
|Serie B |36 | 5 | 3 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 39 | 7 | ||
| 2021–22
|35 | 6 | 3 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 38 | 9 | |||
| 2022–23
|Serie A |19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 20 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!118 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 127 | 22 | |
| Sassuolo (loan)
|Serie A |18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="3" |Sassuolo
|Serie A |28 | 2 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2024–25
|Serie B |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!30 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| Rangers
|23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 3{{efn|Appearances in Scottish League Cup}} | 2 | 37 | 5 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!272 | 32 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 304 | 40 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 21 March 2025}}{{NFT player|83703|access-date=31 January 2022}}{{Eu-Football.info|31648|access-date=31 January 2022}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="5"|Albania
|2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 3 |
| 2024 | 13 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 33 | 6 |
|---|
Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Nedim Bajrami ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | 17 June 2023 | Arena Kombëtare, Tirana, Albania | {{fb|MDA}} | align=center | 2–0 | align=center | 2–0 | rowspan=3 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 2. | 20 June 2023 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | {{fb|FRO}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 3–1 | |
| 3. | 7 September 2023 | Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic | {{fb|CZE}} | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | 1–1 | |
| 4. | 7 June 2024 | Haladás Sportkomplexum, Szombathely, Hungary | {{fb|AZE}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 5. | 15 June 2024 | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany | {{fb|ITA}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
| 6. | 19 November 2024 | Arena Kombëtare, Tirana, Albania | {{fb|UKR}} | align=center | 1–2 | align=center | 1–2 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B |
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.football.ch/sfv/nationalteams/u-15/team.aspx/t-50700/p-820098 Under-15 Profile] at football.ch
- [http://www.football.ch/fr/asf/equipes-nationales/m16/team.aspx/t-41647/p-820098 Under-16 Profile] at football.ch
- [http://www.football.ch/fr/asf/equipes-nationales/m17/team.aspx/t-41646/p-820098 Under-17 Profile] at football.ch
- [http://www.football.ch/fr/asf/equipes-nationales/m18/team.aspx/t-41645/p-820098 Under-18 Profile] at football.ch
- [http://www.football.ch/fr/ASF/Equipes-nationales/M19/Team.aspx/t-41644/p-820098/ Under-19 Profile] at football.ch
{{Rangers F.C. squad}}
{{Albania squad UEFA Euro 2024}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajrami, Nedim}}
Category:Swiss people of Macedonian descent
Category:Swiss people of Albanian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Albanian descent
Category:Albanian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Albanian sportsmen
Category:Swiss men's footballers
Category:Macedonian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Macedonian sportsmen
Category:Footballers from Zurich
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Albania men's international footballers
Category:Switzerland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Switzerland men's youth international footballers
Category:Grasshopper Club Zurich players
Category:US Sassuolo Calcio players
Category:Swiss Super League players
Category:Albanian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Swiss expatriate men's footballers
Category:Macedonian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland