List of Kosovo international footballers born outside Kosovo

The list of Kosovo international footballers born outside Kosovo includes all the players who were born outside Kosovo, including the Kosovan diaspora. This has happened officially since 6 February 2013, when the national team was given permission by FIFA to play against FIFA member associations in international friendlies.[1] The first non-Albanian international football player, Adis Nurković was born in Velika Kladuša, SFR Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina) and he represented Kosovo during the 2017.[2] The majority of these players were born in Switzerland.

List of countries where players were born
Country Total
 Switzerland 24*
 Germany 20*
 Sweden 10*
 Norway 5*
 Serbia and Montenegro
(now  Serbia) 		4
 Finland 3*
 Croatia 2
 Austria 1
 Belgium 1
 England 1
 Netherlands 1
 Yugoslavia
(now  Bosnia and Herzegovina) 		1
* = Including uncapped eligible players

The following players:

  1. have been called up or have played at least one full international match with national senior team.
  2. were born outside Kosovo.
  3. This list includes players who have dual citizenship with Kosovo and/or have become naturalized Kosovan citizens.
  4. This list includes only players who have played with Kosovo from the first official international match against Haiti,[3] and until their last match against Iceland, on 23 March 2025.[4]

The players are ordered per modern-day country of birth or if the country at the time of birth differs from the current, this is indicated with a subsection.

Players

[edit]

Below is the list of the 65 (61 eligible + 4 ineligible) players who were born outside Kosovo.

  • Players in bold are called up to the squad in last 12 months and are still active at international level.
  • Players with flags in front of their name are players who represented Kosovo, but now represent another national team.
  • A yellow background indicates the most recent match.

Capped players

[edit]
As of 23 March 2025
Name Place of birth Origin Pos. Caps Goals First cap Last cap Ref
Opponent Date Opponent Date
Fidan Aliti Switzerland Binningen Miratovac DF 60 1  Turkey 11 June 2017  Iceland 20 March 2025 [P 1]
Valon Berisha Sweden Malmö Podujevo MF 49 4  Finland 5 September 2016  Iceland 20 March 2025 [P 2]
Arijanet Muric Switzerland Schlieren Rožaje GK 43 0  Azerbaijan 20 November 2018  Iceland 20 March 2025 [P 3]
Edon Zhegrova Germany Herford Dobrajë e Madhe MF 42 5  Madagascar 24 March 2018  Lithuania 18 November 2024 [P 4]
Florent Hadergjonaj Switzerland Langnau Deçan DF 37 1  Bulgaria 10 June 2019  Lithuania 18 November 2024 [P 5]
Leart Paqarada Germany Bremen Podujevo DF 35 1  Oman 7 September 2014  Iceland 23 March 2025 [P 6]
Besar Halimi Germany Frankfurt Malishevë, Gjilan MF 34 3  Equatorial Guinea 10 October 2015  Greece 14 November 2021 [P 7]
Arbër Zeneli Sweden Säter Mitrovica MF 33 9  Croatia 6 October 2016  Andorra 28 March 2023 [P 8]
Florent Muslija Germany Achern Pristina MF 30 1  Czech Republic 7 September 2019  Iceland 23 March 2025 [P 9]
Hekuran Kryeziu Switzerland Luzern Rogaçicë MF 30 0  Albania 13 November 2015  Belarus 19 June 2023 [P 10]
Elbasan Rashani Sweden Värnamo Vushtrri FW 29 5  Albania 13 November 2015  Norway 5 June 2024 [P 11]
Herolind Shala Norway Porsgrunn Drenas MF 27 0  Croatia 6 October 2016  Greece 14 November 2021 [P 12]
Zymer Bytyqi Belgium Sint-Truiden Lipjan MF 26 1  Haiti 5 March 2014  Lithuania 18 November 2024 [P 13]
Ibrahim Drešević Sweden Fuxerna, Lilla Edet Tuzi DF 25 0  Gibraltar 10 October 2019  Romania 12 September 2023 [P 14]
Benjamin Kololli Switzerland Aigle Lipjan MF 24 4  Turkey 12 November 2016  Greece 5 June 2022 [P 15]
Betim Fazliji Serbia and MontenegroSerbia Vranje Miratovac DF 22 0  Albania 11 November 2020  Andorra 12 October 2023 [P 16]
Idriz Voca Switzerland Stans Mitrovica MF 15 0  Madagascar 24 March 2018  Malta 4 June 2021 [P 17]
Ilir Krasniqi Germany Bocholt Kosovo Polje MF 11 0  Cyprus 27 September 2022  Iceland 23 March 2025 [P 18]
Mirlind Kryeziu Switzerland Zürich Malisheva DF 10 0  Georgia 2 September 2021  Andorra 28 March 2023 [P 19]
Blendi Idrizi Germany Bonn Gjilan MF 9 0  San Marino 1 June 2021  Norway 5 June 2024 [P 20]
Alban Pnishi Switzerland Zürich Gjakova DF 8 0  Albania 13 November 2015  Iceland 9 October 2017 [P 21]
Emir Sahiti Serbia and MontenegroSerbia Zemun Medveđa MF 7 1  Northern Ireland 9 June 2022  Iceland 23 March 2025 [P 22]
Donis Avdijaj Germany Osnabrück Istog FW 6 2  Iceland 24 March 2017  Malta 17 November 2018 [P 23]
Astrit Selmani Sweden Malmö Mitrovica FW 5 1  Sweden 9 October 2021  Burkina Faso 24 March 2022 [P 24]
Fisnik Asllani Germany Berlin Pristina FW 5 0  Romania 6 September 2024  Lithuania 18 November 2024 [P 25]
Flamur Kastrati Norway Oslo Deçan FW 5 0  Haiti 5 March 2014  Sweden 12 January 2020 [P 26]
Avni Pepa Norway Kristiansand Peja DF 5 0  Haiti 5 March 2014  Croatia 6 October 2016 [P 27]
Toni Domgjoni Croatia Koprivnica Bishtazhin MF 4 1  Burkina Faso 24 March 2022  Greece 12 June 2022 [P 28]
Kreshnik Hajrizi Switzerland Sierre Prizren DF 4 0  Faroe Islands 19 November 2022   Switzerland 18 November 2023 [P 29]
Destan Bajselmani Netherlands Enschede Suva Reka DF 4 0  San Marino 1 June 2021  Gambia 11 June 2021 [P 30]
Eroll Zejnullahu Germany Berlin Podujevo MF 4 0  Senegal 25 May 2014  Gambia 11 June 2021 [P 31]
Valmir Sulejmani Germany Großburgwedel Gjilan FW 4 0  Equatorial Guinea 10 October 2015  San Marino 1 June 2021 [P 32]
Altin Zeqiri Finland Espoo Vushtrri MF 3 1  Andorra 12 October 2023  Belarus 21 November 2023 [P 33]
Imran Bunjaku Switzerland Zürich Gjilan MF 3 1  Senegal 25 May 2014  Equatorial Guinea 10 October 2015 [P 34]
Lum Rexhepi Finland Turku Ferizaj DF 3 0  Haiti 5 March 2014  Faroe Islands 3 June 2016 [P 35]
Vesel Demaku Austria Altenmarkt an der Triesting Drenas MF 2 0  Iceland 20 March 2025  Iceland 23 March 2025 [P 36]
Amir Saipi Switzerland Schaffhausen Prizren GK 2 0  Lithuania 12 October 2024  Iceland 23 March 2025 [P 37]
Arianit Ferati Germany Stuttgart Mitrovica MF 2 0  Armenia 16 November 2022  Faroe Islands 19 November 2022 [P 38]
Lavdrim Hajrulahu Switzerland Lausanne Miratovac DF 2 0  Guinea 8 June 2021  Gambia 11 June 2021 [P 39]
Liridon Balaj Switzerland La Chaux-de-Fonds Peja MF 2 0  Guinea 8 June 2021  Gambia 11 June 2021 [P 40]
Mersim Asllani Switzerland Aigle Gjakova MF 2 0  Guinea 8 June 2021  Gambia 11 June 2021 [P 41]
Gjelbrim Taipi Serbia and MontenegroSerbia Bujanovac Veliki Trnovac MF 2 0  Burkina Faso 27 March 2018  Albania 29 May 2018 [P 42]
Alban Bunjaku England Romford MF 2 0  Turkey 21 May 2014  Senegal 25 May 2014 [P 43]
Andi Hoti Switzerland Uster Ratkoc DF 1 0  Lithuania, 18 November 2024 [P 44]
Eliot Bujupi Germany Böblingen Arllat FW 1 0  Cyprus, 9 September 2024 [P 45]
Art Smakaj Croatia Zagreb Drenas MF 1 0  Norway, 5 June 2024 [P 46]
Alban Ajdini Switzerland Geneva Veliki Trnovac MF 1 0  Belarus, 21 November 2023 [P 47]
Ismajl Beka Switzerland Frauenfeld DF 1 0  Romania, 12 September 2023 [P 48]
Jozef Pukaj Switzerland Riehen Istog GK 1 0  Faroe Islands, 19 November 2022 [P 49]
Jetmir Haliti Sweden Malmö Mitrovica DF 1 0  Armenia, 16 November 2022 [P 50]
Eris Abedini Switzerland Sorengo Komogllavë MF 1 0  Armenia, 16 November 2022 [P 51]
Lorik Emini Switzerland Zug Gjilan MF 1 0  San Marino, 1 June 2021 [P 52]
Leotrim Bekteshi Germany Berlin Mitrovica DF 1 0  Sweden, 12 January 2020 [P 53]
Ismet Lushaku Sweden Eskilstuna Pristina MF 1 0  Sweden, 12 January 2020 [P 54]
Ylldren Ibrahimaj Norway Arendal MF 1 0  Sweden, 12 January 2020 [P 55]
Arbenit Xhemajli Switzerland Brugg Ferizaj DF 1 0  Gibraltar, 10 October 2019 [P 56]
Shkelqim Demhasaj Switzerland Schaffhausen Carrabreg i Poshtëm FW 1 0  Malta, 17 November 2018 [P 57]
Jetmir Krasniqi Switzerland Nyon Klina DF 1 0  Albania, 29 May 2018 [P 58]
Bledar Hajdini Germany Fürstenfeldbruck Podujevo GK 1 0  Latvia, 13 November 2017 [P 59]
Suad Sahiti Serbia and MontenegroSerbia Belgrade Medveđa MF 1 0  Latvia, 13 November 2017 [P 60]
Adis Nurković Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaBosnia and Herzegovina Velika Kladuša Pristina (by marriage) GK 1 0  Turkey, 11 June 2017 [P 61]

Ineligible players

[edit]
Name Place of birth Origin Pos. Caps Goals First cap or call-up Last cap or call-up Ref
Opponent Date Opponent Date
Switzerland Uran Bislimi Switzerland Basel Shtime MF 2 1  Armenia 16 November 2022  Faroe Islands 19 November 2022 [P 62]
Finland Agon Sadiku Finland Raahe Ferizaj FW 2 0  Armenia 16 November 2022  Faroe Islands 19 November 2022 [P 63]
Germany Enis Bunjaki Germany Offenbach am Main Gjilan FW 2 0  Senegal 25 May 2014  Oman 7 September 2014 [P 64]
Albania Albion Avdijaj Switzerland Zürich Gjakova FW 2 0  Turkey 21 May 2014  Senegal 25 May 2014 [P 65]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "FIFA Circular no.1342" (PDF). FIFA. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Kosova bëhet me lojtarin e parë të huaj" [Kosovo becomes the first foreign player] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 30 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Kosovo vs Haiti, 5 March 2014". eu-football.info. 5 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Iceland vs Kosovo, 23 March 2025". eu-football.info. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
Player profiles
  1. ^ "Fidan Aliti". eu-football.info. 20 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Valon Berisha". eu-football.info. 20 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Arijanet Muriqi". eu-football.info. 20 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Edon Zhegrova". eu-football.info. 18 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Florent Hadergjonaj". eu-football.info. 18 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Leart Paqarada". eu-football.info. 23 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Besar Halimi". eu-football.info. 14 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Arbër Zeneli". eu-football.info. 28 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Florent Muslija". eu-football.info. 23 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Hekuran Kryeziu". eu-football.info. 19 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Elbasan Rashani". eu-football.info. 5 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Herolind Shala". eu-football.info. 14 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Zymer Bytyqi". eu-football.info. 18 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Ibrahim Dreshaj". eu-football.info. 12 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Benjamin Kololli". eu-football.info. 5 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Betim Fazliji". eu-football.info. 12 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Idriz Voca". eu-football.info. 4 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Ilir Krasniqi". eu-football.info. 23 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Mirlind Kryeziu". eu-football.info. 28 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Blendi Idrizi". eu-football.info. 5 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Alban Pnishi". eu-football.info. 9 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Emir Sahiti". eu-football.info. 23 March 2025.
  23. ^ "Donis Avdijaj". eu-football.info. 17 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Astrit Selmani". eu-football.info. 24 March 2022.
  25. ^ "Fisnik Asllani". eu-football.info. 18 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Flamur Kastrati". eu-football.info. 12 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Avni Pepa". eu-football.info. 6 October 2016.
  28. ^ "Toni Domgjoni". eu-football.info. 12 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Kreshnik Hajrizi". eu-football.info. 18 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Destan Bajselmani". eu-football.info. 11 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Eroll Zejnullahu". eu-football.info. 11 June 2021.
  32. ^ "Valmir Sulejmani". eu-football.info. 1 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Altin Zeqiri". eu-football.info. 21 November 2023.
  34. ^ "Imran Bunjaku". eu-football.info. 10 October 2015.
  35. ^ "Lum Rexhepi". eu-football.info. 3 June 2016.
  36. ^ "Vesel Demaku". eu-football.info. 23 March 2025.
  37. ^ "Amir Saipi". eu-football.info. 23 March 2025.
  38. ^ "Arianit Ferati". eu-football.info. 19 November 2022.
  39. ^ "Lavdrim Hajrullahu". eu-football.info. 11 June 2021.
  40. ^ "Liridon Balaj". eu-football.info. 11 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Mersim Asllani". eu-football.info. 11 June 2021.
  42. ^ "Gjelbrim Taipi". eu-football.info. 29 May 2018.
  43. ^ "Alban Bunjaku". eu-football.info. 25 May 2014.
  44. ^ "Andi Hoti". eu-football.info. 18 November 2024.
  45. ^ "Eliot Bujupi". eu-football.info. 9 September 2024.
  46. ^ "Art Smakaj". eu-football.info. 5 June 2024.
  47. ^ "Alban Ajdini". eu-football.info. 21 November 2023.
  48. ^ "Ismajl Beka". eu-football.info. 12 September 2023.
  49. ^ "Jozef Pukaj". eu-football.info. 19 November 2022.
  50. ^ "Jetmir Haliti". eu-football.info. 16 November 2022.
  51. ^ "Eris Abedini". eu-football.info. 16 November 2022.
  52. ^ "Lorik Emini". eu-football.info. 1 June 2021.
  53. ^ "Leotrim Bekteshi". eu-football.info. 12 January 2020.
  54. ^ "Ismet Lushaku". eu-football.info. 12 January 2020.
  55. ^ "Ylldren Ibrahimaj". eu-football.info. 12 January 2020.
  56. ^ "Arbenit Xhemajli". eu-football.info. 10 October 2019.
  57. ^ "Shkelqim Demhasaj". eu-football.info. 17 November 2018.
  58. ^ "Jetmir Krasniqi". eu-football.info. 29 May 2018.
  59. ^ "Bledar Hajdini". eu-football.info. 13 November 2017.
  60. ^ "Suad Sahiti". eu-football.info. 13 November 2017.
  61. ^ "Adis Nurković". eu-football.info. 11 June 2017.
  62. ^ "Uran Bislimi". eu-football.info. 19 November 2022.
  63. ^ "Agon Sadiku". eu-football.info. 19 November 2022.
  64. ^ "Enis Bunjaki". eu-football.info. 7 September 2014.
  65. ^ "Albion Avdijaj". eu-football.info. 25 May 2014.
[edit]
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