Andi Zeqiri

Andi Zeqiri (born 22 June 1999) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Andi Zeqiri
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-06-22) 22 June 1999
Place of birth Lausanne, Switzerland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-forward
Club information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
Number 29
Youth career
2008–2011 Stade Lausanne-Ouchy
2011–2017 Lausanne
2016–2017 → Juventus (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2020 Lausanne 94 (28)
2020– Brighton & Hove Albion 3 (0)
National team‡
2013–2014 Switzerland U15 3 (1)
2014–2015 Switzerland U16 7 (3)
2014–2016 Switzerland U17 13 (4)
2016–2017 Switzerland U18 7 (3)
2015–2017 Switzerland U19 13 (2)
2016 Switzerland U20 1 (1)
2018– Switzerland U21 11 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 October 2020

Club career

Early career and Lausanne

At the age of 9, Zeqiri started playing football for local team Stade Lausanne-Ouchy, where after three years he was transferred to Lausanne,[1] playing with the youth teams in 24 matches and scoring 15 goals. On 22 May 2015, Zeqiri made his professional debut in a 2–1 away defeat against Le Mont, coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute in place of Anđelko Savić.[2]

Loan at Juventus

On 30 August 2016, Zeqiri joined Campionato Primavera 2 side Juventus Youth, on a season-long loan with an option to buy.[3] On 1 October 2016, he made his debut in a 2–0 home win against Sassuolo after coming on as a substitute in the 68th minute in place of Moise Kean.[4]

Return from loan

On 1 July 2017, Zeqiri returned to Swiss Super League side Lausanne. On 12 August 2017, he played the first game after the return in the 2017–18 Swiss Cup first round against NK Pajde Möhlin after coming on as a substitute at 89th minute in place of Gabriel Torres.[5]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 1 October 2020, Zeqiri signed a four-year contract with Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.[6][7] He made his debut for The Seagulls in a 1–1 home draw against Sheffield United on 20 December coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute.[8] He made his first start for The Seagulls on 10 January 2021 in a third round FA Cup tie away at Newport County where Brighton eventually won on penalties with Zeqiri being replaced in the 63rd minute.[9] Zeqiri came on as a substitute in Brighton's 1–0 away victory over defending champions Liverpool on 3 February claiming their first league win at Anfield since 1982.[10]

International career

Switzerland

From 2013, until 2019, Zeqiri has been part of Switzerland at youth international level, respectively has been part of the U15, U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 teams and he with these teams played 53 matches and scored 23 goals.

Kosovo

On 17 June 2020, Zeqiri's father confirmed that he has obtained the Kosovan passport and he will started the process of completing the necessary documents, which would allow him to play for Kosovo immediately after the end of the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifications with Switzerland U21.[11] On 26 August 2020, Agim Ademi, president of Football Federation of Kosovo confirmed that he was planned to be called up from Kosovo in September 2020 for 2020–21 UEFA Nations League matches against Moldova and Greece, but due to problems with documentation, could not be part of the national team.[12]

Personal life

Zeqiri was born in Lausanne, Switzerland to Kosovo Albanian parents from the village Talinoc i Muhaxhirëve of Ferizaj.[13]

Career statistics
As of 3 February 2021[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lausanne 2014–15 Swiss Challenge League 3000——30
2015–16 14221——163
2016–17 Swiss Super League 0010——10
2017–18 19220——212
2018–19 Swiss Challenge League 24711——258
2019–20 331745——3722
2020–21 Swiss Super League 1000——10
Total 9428107000010435
Brighton & Hove Albion 2020–21 Premier League 302000—50
Career total 9728127000010935

References
  1. "Andi Zeqiri (17) ist das nächste Schweizer Supertalent" [Andi Zeqiri (17) is the next Swiss super talent] (in German). Blick. 13 October 2016.
  2. "Le Mont vs. Lausanne-Sport 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  3. "Le Lausannois Zeqiri fait le grand saut à la Juventus" [Lausanne's Zeqiri takes the plunge to Juventus]. Swiss Football League (in French). 30 August 2016.
  4. "Juventus Primavera–Sassuolo 2–0". Juventus Club Malta (in Maltese). 1 October 2016.
  5. "NK Pajde – FC Lausanne-Sport 1:3". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  6. "Albion sign Zeqiri". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 1 October 2020.
  7. "Zeqiri: Potter's faith in young players a big pull". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 1 October 2020.
  8. "Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 Sheffield United: Danny Welbeck saves late point against ten men". BBC Sport. 20 December 2020.
  9. "Newport County 1–1(3–4 pens) Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  10. "Liverpool 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Steven Alzate scores in shock win". BBC Sport. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  11. "Ekskluzive: Flet babai i Andi Zeqirit; Andi e ka zgjedhur Kosovën!" [Exclusive: Andi Zeqiri's father speaks; Andi has chosen Kosovo!]. Futbolli.info (in Albanian). 17 June 2020.
  12. "Agim Ademi sqaron se pse dështoi kësaj radhe ardhja e Andi Zeqirit te Kosova, i zbulon të rejat e fundit rreth ndeshjeve me Moldavinë dhe Greqinë" [Agim Ademi explains why the arrival of Andi Zeqiri in Kosovo failed this time, reveals the latest news about the matches with Moldova and Greece]. Zeri.info (in Albanian). 26 August 2020.
  13. "ZYRTARE: Talenti 17 vjeçar nga Ferizaji prezantohet te Juventusi (FOTO)" [OFFICIAL: 17-year-old talent from Ferizaj is presented to Juventus (PHOTO)]. Lajmi.net (in Albanian). 30 August 2016.
  14. Andi Zeqiri at Soccerway
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