Veton Berisha

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Veton Berisha

|image = FC Red Bull Salzburg gegen SK Rapid Wien (10. September 2017) 27 (cropped).jpg

|upright = 1.2

|caption = Berisha with Rapid Wien in 2017

|fullname = Veton Berisha

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|4|13|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Egersund, Norway

|height = 1.75 m{{WorldFootball.net|veton-berisha}}

|position = Forward

|currentclub = Molde

|clubnumber = 14

|youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2009

|youthclubs1 = Egersund

|years1 = 2009–2010 |clubs1 = Egersund |caps1 = 21 |goals1 = 1

|years2 = 2010–2015 |clubs2 = Viking |caps2 = 94 |goals2 = 24

|years3 = 2015–2017 |clubs3 = Greuther Fürth |caps3 = 63 |goals3 = 11

|years4 = 2017–2019 |clubs4 = Rapid Wien |caps4 = 44 |goals4 = 7

|years5 = 2019 |clubs5 = Brann |caps5 = 26 |goals5 = 3

|years6 = 2020–2022 |clubs6 = Viking |caps6 = 68 |goals6 = 46

|years7 = 2022–2023 |clubs7 = Hammarby IF |caps7 = 14 |goals7 = 4

|years8 = 2023– |clubs8 = Molde |caps8 = 32 |goals8 = 9

|nationalyears1 = 2009 |nationalteam1 = Norway U15 |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 0

|nationalyears2 = 2010 |nationalteam2 = Norway U16 |nationalcaps2 = 9 |nationalgoals2 = 3

|nationalyears3 = 2011 |nationalteam3 = Norway U17 |nationalcaps3 = 9 |nationalgoals3 = 3

|nationalyears4 = 2011–2012 |nationalteam4 = Norway U18 |nationalcaps4 = 14 |nationalgoals4 = 8

|nationalyears5 = 2013 |nationalteam5 = Norway U19 |nationalcaps5 = 2 |nationalgoals5 = 1

|nationalyears6 = 2013–2016 |nationalteam6 = Norway U21 |nationalcaps6 = 17 |nationalgoals6 = 2

|nationalyears7 = 2016–2022 |nationalteam7 = Norway |nationalcaps7 = 10 |nationalgoals7 = 1

|club-update = 12 July 2025

|nationalteam-update = 12 June 2022

}}

Veton Berisha (born 13 April 1994) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Molde in Eliteserien. His parents are from Kosovo and he is the younger brother of Valon Berisha. Berisha has represented Norway at every level from under-15 to full international level.

Club career

Berisha was born in Egersund,{{cite web |url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=254777 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222193613/http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=254777 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2013 |language=no |title=Veton Berisha |work=altomfotball.no |publisher=TV 2 (Norway) |access-date=22 October 2021}} and started his career in the local club Egersunds IK. He was considered one of the biggest Norwegian talents at his age and, like his brother Valon, Veton was on a trial with Manchester City before he signed for Viking in May 2009, but did not join the club until the summer of 2010.{{cite web |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article138990.ece |language=no |title=Bror til Berisha signerte for Viking |work=Stavanger Aftenblad |first=Olav Rege |last=Olsen |date=16 May 2009 |access-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810172037/http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article138990.ece |archive-date=10 August 2010 }} He made his debut for Egersunds' first-team in 2009 against Hundvåg,{{cite web |url=http://www.kxweb.no/portal/public/article/show.do;jsessionid=0497DB49547E094C49ED1772492D2F20?subType=news&id=9135931 |language=no |title=Veton Berisha tatt ut til G-15 landslaget |website=Egersunds IK |date=26 August 2009 |access-date=8 July 2012}} and in total he played 21 matches for the Third Division side.

After joining Viking, Berisha trained with the first team in the pre-season ahead of the 2011 season,{{cite web |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article195363.ece |language=no |title=Veton har Valon som forbilde og rådgiver |work=Stavanger Aftenblad |date=17 March 2011 |access-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323002500/http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article195363.ece |archive-date=23 March 2011 }} and made his debut for the club when he replaced Erik Nevland after 60 minutes in the first round of the 2011 Norwegian Cup against his old club Egersund. Berisha got his first minutes of playing-time in Tippeligaen in the 1–3 loss against Tromsø on 19 May 2011,{{cite web |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article201357.ece |language=no |title=Debutant Veton Berisha sulten på mer spill |work=Stavanger Aftenblad |first=Kristian Oftedal |last=Kvendseth |date=23 May 2011 |access-date=8 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825032756/http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article201357.ece |archive-date=25 August 2011 |url-status=dead}} and started his first match for Viking when Brann was beaten 3–0 on 17 June 2011.{{cite web |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article203335.ece |language=no |title=Veton Berisha gjorde som broren sa |work=Stavanger Aftenblad |first=Stig |last=Nilssen |date=17 June 2011 |access-date=8 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823081019/http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article203335.ece |archive-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}

On 19 June 2011, Berisha and his brother Valon became the first brothers to start a match for Viking in 22 years since Jan and Egil Fjetland played against Molde in the 1989 Norwegian Cup final.{{cite web |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article203511.ece |language=no |title=Familien Berishas store dag |work=Stavanger Aftenblad |first=Knut Arne |last=Nilssen |date=20 June 2011 |access-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822050626/http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article203511.ece |archive-date=22 August 2011 }} After the match, Viking's manager Åge Hareide said that "It's fun to start the game with two brothers, I only wish they could pass the ball to others than themselves, as it would create a lot more chances for us, but since they are brothers I guess we can forgive them. In the match against Aalesund on 17 July 2011, Berisha got his first league-goal when he scored the match-winning goal 12 minutes after he came on as a substitute to replace Erik Nevland.{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=10096713 |language=no |title=Berisha ble matchvinner med sitt første Viking-mål |work=Verdens Gang |first=Pål |last=Karstensen |date=17 July 2011 |access-date=8 July 2012}}

During the mid-summer break in the 2012 season, Berisha expressed a concern about his lack of playing time; he had only played 69 minutes in the league that season and his last appearance in Viking's starting line-up was on 7 August 2011. But Berisha was hoping for a fresh start after Kjell Jonevret was hired as the new head coach following Hareide's departure.{{cite web |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article241534.ece |language=no |title=Nå vil lillebror Berisha gripe sjansen |work=Stavanger Aftenblad |first=Knut Arne |last=Nilssen |date=27 June 2012 |access-date=8 July 2012}} In the fourth round of the 2012 Norwegian Cup, Berisha scored Viking's first goal after only one minute on the pitch, but Brann eventually won 3–2.{{cite web |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/nm/article242400.ece |language=no |title=Berisha tok en Balotelli |work=Stavanger Aftenblad |first=Jan-Erik |last=Larsen |date=4 July 2012 |access-date=8 July 2012}}

On 15 July 2012, Berisha secured Jonevret his first victory as Viking-coach, when he scored the match-winning goal in the stoppage-time against Hønefoss.{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=10066993 |language=no |title=Veton Berisha sørget for Jonevrets første |work=Verdens Gang |first=Joar |last=Time |date=15 July 2012 |access-date=15 July 2012}}

On 22 April 2013, it was reported that Berisha fractured his right elbow and would be absent for two months.{{cite web |url=http://www.kohaditore.com/?page=1,18,143451|language=sq|title=Veton Berisha thyen dorën, mungon dy muaj|work=Koha Ditore|first=Joar |last=Time |date=22 April 2013 |access-date=14 May 2013}}

After scoring 11 goals in 14 matches halfway through the 2015 season, Berisha joined 2. Bundesliga side Greuther Fürth on a free transfer on 1 July 2015.{{cite web|title=Berisha til tysk 2. divisjon|url=https://www.nrk.no/rogaland/berisha-ja-til-greuther-furth-1.12437526|work=NRK|access-date=15 January 2020|language=no|date=1 July 2015}} On 1 September 2017, he signed a three-year contract with Austrian club Rapid Wien.{{cite web|title=Neuzugang: Veton Berisha verstärkt unseren Angriff|url=https://www.skrapid.at/de/startseite/news/news/aktuelles/2017/08/neuzugang-veton-berisha-verstaerkt-unseren-angriff|website=SK Rapid Wien|access-date=15 January 2020|language=de|date=1 September 2017}}

On 30 March 2019, he returned to Norwegian football, signing a four-year contract with Brann.{{cite web|title=Bekrefter Berisha-overgangen|url=https://www.brann.no/nyheter/bekrefter-berisha-overgangen|website=SK Brann|access-date=15 January 2020|language=no|date=30 March 2019}} In January 2020, Berisha joined his former club Viking for a reported fee of around NOK 6.5 million. He signed a four-year contract with the club.{{cite web|title=Veton er på vei hjem!|url=https://www.vikingfotball.no/nyheter/veton-er-pa-vei-hjem|website=Viking FK|access-date=15 January 2020|language=no|date=13 January 2020}}{{cite web|title=Veton Berisha legger ekstra press på seg selv: – Det er viktig for meg å få det til i Viking|url=https://www.aftenbladet.no/sport/i/8molJQ/veton-berisha-legger-ekstra-press-paa-seg-selv-det-er-viktig-for-meg-aa-faa-det-til-i-viking|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|first=Kjetil|last=Flygind|access-date=15 January 2020|language=no|date=14 January 2020}}

On 23 July 2022, Berisha transferred to Hammarby IF in the Swedish Allsvenskan, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal.{{cite web|url= https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/klart-veton-berisha-till-hammarby/|title=Klart – Veton Berisha till Hammarby|date=23 July 2022|accessdate=23 July 2022|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|language=Swedish}} The transfer fee was reportedly set at around 20 million Norwegian kroner, making it a record breaking transfer for Hammarby.{{cite web|url=https://www.nettavisen.no/sport/viking-bekrefter-enighet-med-hammarby-om-veton-berisha/s/5-95-582601|title=Vikings kaptein bytter beite og fortsetter karrieren i Allsvenskan.|date=22 July 2022|accessdate=22 July 2022|publisher=Nettavisen|language=Norwegian}} In total, Berisha made 15 competitive appearances for Hammarby, scoring four goals, helping the side to reach a 3rd place in the 2022 Allsvenskan table.{{cite web|url=https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/veton-berisha-lamnar-hammarby-for-spel-i-molde/|title=Veton Berisha lämnar Hammarby för spel i Molde|date=24 January 2023|accessdate=24 January 2023|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|language=Swedish}}

On 24 January 2023, Molde announced the signing of Berisha to a four-year contract.{{cite web|title=Veton Berisha er klar för Molde!|url=https://www.moldefk.no/nyheter/veton-berisha-er-klar-for-molde|website=moldefk.no|publisher=Molde FK|access-date=24 January 2023|language=Norwegian|date=24 January 2023}} He was sought out as a replacement for David Datro Fofana and the transfer fee was reportedly set at around 35-40 million Swedish kronor, with potential bonuses included.{{cite web|url=https://www.nettavisen.no/sport/veton-berisha-klar-for-molde/s/5-95-873383|title=Veton Berisha klar for Molde|date=24 January 2023|accessdate=24 January 2023|publisher=Nettavisen|language=Norwegian}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/69B2ez/veton-berisha-klar-for-molde-sa-mycket-far-hammarby|title=Klart: Veton Berisha säljs till Molde|date=21 January 2023|accessdate=24 January 2023|publisher=Aftonbladet|language=Swedish}}{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/veton-berisha-klar-for-molde-lamnar-hammarby/|title=Veton Berisha klar för Molde – lämnar Hammarby|date=24 January 2023|accessdate=24 January 2023|publisher=Expressen|language=Swedish}}

International career

Having played one match for Norway U15 in 2009, Berisha played nine matches for Norway U16 the next year where he scored three goals. In 2011, Berisha also scored three goals in nine matches while representing his country, this time for the under-17 team. He made 14 appearances and scored eight goals for Norway U18 before representing the under-19 team twice in 2013, scoring one goal. Between 2013 and 2016, Berisha played 17 matches and scored two goals for the under-21 team.{{NFF|2413514}}

On 29 May 2016, Berisha debuted for the Norwegian senior squad in a friendly match against Portugal.{{Cite news|first=Odd Inge|last=Aas|title=Høgmo slapp ikke til spilleren "alle" ville se|url=https://www.aftenbladet.no/sport/i/ka4dw9/hoegmo-slapp-ikke-til-spilleren-alle-ville-se|website=Stavanger Aftenblad|date=29 May 2016|language=no|quote=Mot det fjerde best rangerte laget i Europa slapp landslagssjefen til hele fem debutanter. Anders Trondsen og Veton Berisha fra start, Iver Fossum, Alexander Sørloth og Niklas Gunnarsson fra benken.|trans-quote=Against the fourth best-ranked team in Europe, national team manager [Per-Mathias Høgmo] introduced five debutants. Anders Trondsen and Veton Berisha from the start; Iver Fossum, Alexander Sørloth, and Niklas Gunnarsson from the bench.}} He scored his first goal for Norway on 5 June 2016 against Belgium.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Like his brother Valon, he was approached by Kosovo when the country became FIFA members in May 2016. Veton Berisha decided to keep representing Norway.{{cite news|first=Wegard|last=Bakkehaug|title=Berisha-brødrene velger hvert sitt landslag|url=https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/RW7Vd/berisha-broedrene-velger-hvert-sitt-landslag|website=Verdens Gang|date=25 August 2016|access-date=22 October 2021|language=no}}{{Cite news|first1=Sturla|last1=Johannessen|first2=Sigve Vittersø|last2=Kvamme|title=Berisha om valget av Norge: Blir sikkert kalt en sviker i Kosovo|url=https://www.tv2.no/a/8554567/|website=TV 2|date=30 August 2016|access-date=22 October 2021|language=no}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 12 July 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nifs.no/personprofil.php?person_id=76568|title=Veton Berisha|website=NIFS|access-date=21 November 2021|language=no}}{{soccerway|veton-berisha/155942}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Norwegian Cup, DFB Pokal, Austrian Cup, Svenska Cupen}} !colspan="2"\|Europe !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="6"\|Viking \|2011 \|Eliteserien \|12	1	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	16	1
2012 \|Eliteserien \|21	7	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	24	8
2013 \|Eliteserien \|22	4	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	23	4
2014 \|Eliteserien \|25	1	4	2	colspan="2"\|—	29	3
2015 \|Eliteserien \|14	11	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	16	12
colspan="2"\|Total !94	24	14	4	colspan="2"\|—	108	28
rowspan="4"\|Greuther Fürth \|2015–16 \|2. Bundesliga \|33	8	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	34	8
2016–17 \|2. Bundesliga \|26	3	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	28	4
2017–18 \|2. Bundesliga \|4	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	5	0
colspan="2"\|Total !63	11	4	1	colspan="2"\|—	67	12
rowspan="3"\|Rapid Wien \|2017–18 \|Austrian Bundesliga \|27	4	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	29	4
2018–19 \|Austrian Bundesliga \|17	3	2	1	10{{efn\|name=UEL\|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League}}	1	29	5
colspan="2"\|Total !44	7	4	1	10	1	58	9
Brann \|2019 \|Eliteserien \|26	3	3	0	2{{efn\|name=UEL}}	1	31	4
rowspan="4"\|Viking \|2020 \|Eliteserien \|28	16	colspan="2"\|—	1{{efn\|name=UEL}}	0	29	16
2021 \|Eliteserien \|28	22	3	2	colspan="2"\|—	31	24
2022 \|Eliteserien \|12	8	3	3	colspan="2"\|—	15	11
colspan="2"\|Total !68	46	6	5	1	0	75	51
Hammarby IF \|2022 \|Allsvenskan \|14	4	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	15	4
rowspan="4"\|Molde \|2023 \|Eliteserien \|22	5	7	2	9{{efn\|Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League}}	0	38	7
2024 \|Eliteserien \|1	0	0	0	4{{efn\|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}	0	5	0
2025 \|Eliteserien \|9	4	3	3	colspan="2"\|—	12	7
colspan="2"\|Total !32	9	10	5	13	0	55	14
colspan="3"\|Career total !341	104	42	16	26	2	409	122

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="7" \|Norway \|2016	4	1
2017 \|0 \|0
2018 \|0 \|0
2019 \|0 \|0
2020	1	0
2021	2	0
2022	3	0
colspan="2"\|Total	10	1

:Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Berisha goal.{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/64470/Veton_Berisha.html|title=Berisha, Veton|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=22 October 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Veton Berisha
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1	5 June 2016	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	{{fb\|BEL}}	align="center"\|2–1	align="center"\|2–3	Friendly

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Veton Berisha

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

5 June 2016

King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium