After Eman Kospo went to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Leon Avdullahu to Kosovo, another Swiss talent is expected to change the national team.
The Slovenian newspaper "Blick" reports that despite several call-ups for the Swiss national team, defender Albian Hajdari, who transferred to Hoffenheim in the summer, has chosen Kosovo.
"In September, Albian Hajdari still wanted to focus on his new role at TSG Hoffenheim. After three appearances in the Bundesliga, including a 90-minute match in the 4-1 defeat to Bayern Munich, the 22-year-old also wants to play in the World Cup qualifiers next week. This time, however, not for Switzerland, but for Kosovo," reports 'Blick'.
Hajdari, who according to Transfermarkt.ch has a market value of 12 million Swiss francs and has represented every Swiss national team since the U15 level, is expected to wear the Dardanelles jersey in the next World Cup qualifying matches in October.
The defender may have high hopes for a starting spot for the home match against Slovenia in Pristina and the return match against Sweden, as captain Amir Rrahmani is currently injured.
Compared to Kospo and Avdullah, Hajdar's case is even more bitter for the Swiss Football Association. The former Lugano player has been called up several times for Murat Yakin's Switzerland team.
The first time was for the preparations for the European Championship in May 2024, which Hajdari was not allowed to join after the Cup final. Then in November for the Nations League matches against Serbia and Spain, where he watched both matches from the bench, and most recently in the spring for the friendlies in Northern Ireland and against Luxembourg.
Hajdari made his debut for Switzerland against Kosovo, but since it was only a friendly, the door remained open for the national team of his country of origin.
Meanwhile, Kosovo has used the past weeks and months intensively to secure the player and has been rewarded with success once again. In an interview with Blick in September, the President of the Kosovo Federation, Agim Ademi, said : "It would make us happy and proud if he were to choose us."
In Kosovo, the Hoffenheim player faces significantly less competition in central defense than in Switzerland, where Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Aurèle Amenda and most recently Stefan Gartenmann were more highly regarded.