Arbenit Xhemajli

Arbenit Xhemajli
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-04-23) 23 April 1998
Place of birth Brugg, Switzerland[1]
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Selangor
Number 5
Youth career
2015–2016 Zürich
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Zürich U21 13 (0)
2017–2020 Neuchâtel Xamax 46 (2)
2020–2022 Sunderland 3 (0)
2022–2023 Vaduz 21 (2)
2023–2026 Egnatia 93 (1)
2026– Selangor 2 (0)
International career‡
2018–2019 Kosovo U21 6 (1)
2019 Kosovo 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 June 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 October 2019

Arbenit Xhemajli (born 23 April 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Malaysia Super League club Selangor. Born in Switzerland, he represents Kosovo at international level.

Club career

Neuchâtel Xamax

On 3 July 2017, Xhemajli joined Swiss Challenge League side Neuchâtel Xamax.[2] On 12 August 2017, he made his debut in a 0–21 away deep win in the 2017–18 Swiss Cup first round against Montfaucon after being named in the starting line-up.[3]

Sunderland

On 4 September 2020, Xhemajli signed a two-year contract with EFL League One club Sunderland.[4] Four days later, he made his debut in 2020–21 EFL Trophy group stage against Aston Villa U21 after being named in the starting line-up.[5] On 15 October 2020, it was announced that Xhemajli would be ruled out for the rest of the 2020–21 season after sustaining a knee injury on international duty.[6]

Vaduz

On 5 August 2022, Xhemajli signed a two-year contract with Swiss Challenge League club Vaduz.[7] Nine days later, he made his debut in a 2–4 home defeat against Thun after being named in the starting line-up.[8]

Selangor

On 5 August 2026, Xhemajli moved to Asia by signing for Malaysia Super League giants Selangor for a reported fee of €100,000.[9][10]

International career

Youth

At the start of April 2013, Xhemajli received a call-up from Albania U15 for a selection camp in Switzerland.[11] On 14 March 2018, Xhemajli received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Azerbaijan U21 and Germany U21.[12] His debut with Kosovo U21 came eight days later in a 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification against Azerbaijan U21 after coming on as a substitute at 81st minute in place of the injured Besfort Kolgeci.[13]

Senior

On 23 May 2018, Xhemajli received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Albania,[14] he was an unused substitute in that match. His debut with Kosovo came on 10 October 2019 in a friendly match against Gibraltar after being named in the starting line-up.[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of 5 August 2026[16]
Club Season League Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Zürich U21 2016–17 1. Liga Promotion 13000—4[c]1—171
Neuchâtel Xamax 2017–18 Swiss Challenge League 60————60
2018–19 Swiss Super League 17010———180
2019–20 Swiss Super League 23220———252
Total 40230———432
Sunderland 2020–21 League One 000000—3[d]030
2021–22 League One 300000—7[e]1101
Total 300000—101131
Vaduz 2022–23 Swiss Challenge League 212——3[f]0—242
Egnatia 2023–24 Kategoria Superiore 30040——1[g]0350
2024–25 Kategoria Superiore 31152—3[h]01[g]0403
2025–26 Kategoria Superiore 32040—6[i]01[g]0430
2026–27 Kategoria Superiore 0000—4[j]00[g]040
Total 931132—130301223
Selangor 2026–27 Malaysia Super League 000000——00
Career total 1765162002011312259
  1. ↑ Appearances in Swiss Cup, FA Cup, Albanian Cup, Malaysia FA Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in EFL Cup, Malaysia Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Youth League
  4. ↑ One appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in Premier League 2 with Sunderland U23
  5. ↑ One appearances in EFL Trophy, six appearances and one goal in Premier League 2 with Sunderland U23
  6. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  7. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in Albanian Supercup
  8. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearances in UEFA Conference League
  9. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Conference League
  10. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of 10 October 2019[17]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Kosovo 201910
Total10

Honours

Sunderland
Egnatia

References

  1. ↑ Arbenit Xhemajli at WorldFootball.net
  2. ↑ "Arbenit Xhemajli rejoint Xamax" [Arbenit Xhemajli joins Xamax] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax FCS. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "FC Union-Sportive Montfaucon (0:21) Neuchâtel Xamax FCS" (in German). Swiss Football Association. 12 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Xhemajli signs for Sunderland". Sunderland A.F.C. 4 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Sunderland 8–1 Aston Villa U21s". Sunderland A.F.C. 8 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Xhemajli ruled out of campaign". Sunderland A.F.C. 15 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Neuer Innenverteidiger für den FC Vaduz" [New central defender for FC Vaduz] (in German). FC Vaduz. 5 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Spielbericht: FC Vaduz vs. FC Thun Berner Oberland 2:4" [Match report: FC Vaduz vs. FC Thun Bernese Oberland 2:4] (in German). FC Vaduz. 14 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "Arbenit Xhemajli Strengthens the Red Giants' Defence". selangorfc.com. Selangor FC. 5 August 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Tahir, Saufi (5 August 2026). "Bekas pemain Sunderland! Selangor umum 'orang besi' baharu". Stadium Astro. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Seleksionimi i Zvicres" [Swiss selection] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. April 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  12. ↑ "Prekazi publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet me Azerbejxhanin dhe Gjermaninë" [Prekazi publishes the list of footballers for matches with Azerbaijan and Germany] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 14 March 2018.
  13. ↑ "Kosova U21 e mrekullueshme, e mposht Azerbajxhanin" [The wonderful Kosovo U21 defeats Azerbaijan] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 22 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "Kosova publikon listën e futbollistëve të ftuar për miqësoret me Shqipërinë dhe Bregun e Fildishtë" [Kosovo publishes the list of footballers invited for friendlies with Albania and Ivory Coast] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 23 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "Kosova vs. Gjibraltari, 11-shet startuese" [Kosovo vs. Gibraltar, the starting 11]. TopSporti (in Albanian). 10 October 2019.
  16. ↑ Arbenit Xhemajli at Soccerway
  17. ↑ "Arbenit Xhemajli". eu-football.info. 10 October 2019.
  18. ↑ Paddy, Chris (21 May 2022). "Sunderland 2–0 Wycombe". BBC Sport.