Dijar Nikqi

Dijar Nikqi (born 20 October 2004) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Kategoria Superiore club Teuta.

Dijar Nikqi
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-10-20) 20 October 2004
Place of birth Peja, Kosovo
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-forward
Team information
Current team
 Teuta
Number 30
Youth career
2020–2021 Laçi
2021–2022 Akademia e Futbollit
2022–2023 Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Tirana 28 (4)
2023– Teuta 2 (0)
International career‡
2021– Albania U18 1 (0)
2021– Albania U21 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 November 2021

Club career

Early career and Laçi

Nikqi is a product of youth team systems of the different Kosovan and Albanian sides. In the summer 2020 transfer window, he joined with Kategoria Superiore club Laçi.[1] His debut with Laçi came on 1 November in the 2020–21 Albanian Cup first round against Vora after coming on as a substitute in the 57th minute in place of Kyrian Nwabueze.[2]

Akademia e Futbollit

At the start of January 2021, Nikqi joined with Albanian club Akademia e Futbollit. His debut with Akademia e Futbollit came on 9 January in a 2020–21 Albanian Cup U19 match against Butrinti after being named in the starting line-up and scored his side's three goals during a 3–2 away win.[3]

Tirana

At the start of January 2022, Nikqi joined with Kategoria Superiore club Tirana. His debut with Tirana came on 20 February against Kastrioti after coming on as a substitute in the 82nd minute in place of Redon Xhixha and scored his side's only goal during a 1–2 away defeat.[4][5]

International career

On 21 July 2018, Nikqi was selected by the Peja selection of Kosovo U15.[6] In October 2020, he received the Albanian passport and this paved the way for him to represent Albania.[7] On 5 August 2021, Nikqi received a call-up from Albania U18 for the friendly match against Italy U18,[8] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up. Twenty-two days later, he received a call-up from Albania U21 for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Czech Republic U21,[9] and made his debut after coming on as a substitute in the 46th minute in place of Bernard Karrica.[10]

Honours

Club
Tirana

References
  1. "Nga Sherri te Mazrekaj, sa shumë afrime në merkato për Laçin" [From Sherri to Mazrekaj, how many approaches in the market for Laçi] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 August 2020.
  2. "Laçi vs. Vora 3–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. "KF Butrinti 2:3 Akademia e Futbollit" (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 9 January 2021.
  4. "Kastrioti Krujë vs. Tirana 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  5. "Ishte në provë te Hellas Verona dhe është pjesë e Kombëtares U21, njihuni me talentin 17-vjeçar që debutoi me gol te Tirana" [He was on trials at Hellas Verona and is part of the national U21 team, meet the 17-year-old talent who debuted with a goal in Tirana]. Newsport.al (in Albanian). 20 February 2022.
  6. "Filloi Kampi Jubilar Kombëtar për U-15" [The National Jubilee Camp for U-15 started] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 July 2018.
  7. "Ekskluzive/Fabrika e qokave: 382 të huajt që morën shtetësi shqiptare nga Meta në emër të 'interesit kombëtar' pa u verifikuar për sigurinë! Ja emrat" [Exclusive/Gift Factory: 382 foreigners who received Albanian citizenship from Meta in the name of 'national interest' without being verified for security! Here are the names]. Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). 14 October 2020.
  8. "U-18/Edhe Behari publikon listën për ndeshjen ndaj Italisë" [U-18/Behari also publishes the list for the match against Italy] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 5 August 2021.
  9. "EURO 2023 për moshën U-21/Trajneri Bushi zbardh listën për ndeshjen ndaj Çekisë" [EURO 2023 for the age of U-21/Coach Bush whitens the list for the match against Czechia] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 27 August 2021.
  10. "Czech Republic U21 vs. Albania U21 4–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
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