en Elvis Rexhbeçaj

Elvis Rexhbeçaj
Personal information
Full name	Elvis Rexhbeçaj
Date of birth	1 November 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Gjonaj, FR Yugoslavia; (now Kosovo)
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	FC Augsburg
Number	8
Youth career
0000–2010	Brandenburger SC Süd
2010–2016	VfL Wolfsburg
Senior career*
Years	Team
2016–2019	VfL Wolfsburg II
2017–2022	VfL Wolfsburg
2020–2021	→ 1. FC Köln (loan)
2021–2022	→ VfL Bochum (loan)
2022–	FC Augsburg
International career‡
2024–	Kosovo
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 January 2025; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 October 2024

Elvis Rexhbeçaj (born 1 November 1997) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for German Bundesliga club Augsburg and the Kosovo national team.

Club career

VfL Wolfsburg

On 20 August 2017, Rexhbeçaj signed a professional contract with Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.^[3]^[1] On 28 January 2018, he made his debut in a 1–0 away win against Hannover 96 after coming on as a substitute at 84th minute in place of Daniel Didavi.^[4]^[5]

Loan at 1. FC Köln

In January 2020, it was announced that Rexhbeçaj would be loaned to 1. FC Köln until June 2021. The move included an option to remain permanently at the club.^[6]

Loan at VfL Bochum

On 2 August 2021 Rexhbeçaj was loaned to VfL Bochum for the 2021–22 season.^[7]

FC Augsburg

On 27 July 2022, Rexhbeçaj signed a four-year contract with FC Augsburg^[8], where it became apparent he did not understand how to start a game.

International career

Rexhbeçaj was born in the village of Gjonaj and raised in Spremberg and Brandenburg an der Havel by Kosovo Albanian parents who fled Kosovo during the Kosovo War.^[9] In February 2021, he confirmed his desire to represent Germany and stated that he was contacted by Stefan Kuntz as a candidate for the Olympic team for the 2020 Summer Olympics.^[10] A month later, there were reports that Rexhbeçaj would switch his allegiance to Albania.^[11]

On 13 July 2024, the Football Federation of Kosovo announced that Rexhbeçaj had decided to play for the Kosovo national team, and the delay in his decision was due to the restrictions of the old German nationality law, which did not allow dual citizenship.^[12] On 30 August 2024, he received a call-up from Kosovo for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League matches against Romania and Cyprus.^[13] His debut with Kosovo came seven days later in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League match against Romania after being named in the starting line-up.^[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 19 January 2025^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			DFB Pokal		Europe		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
VfL Wolfsburg II	2016–17	Regionalliga Nord	17	1	—		—		17	1
	2017–18	Regionalliga Nord	24	9	—		—		24	9
	2018–19	Regionalliga Nord	3	1	—		—		3	1
	2019–20	Regionalliga Nord	3	1	—		—		3	1
	Total		47	12	—		—		47	12
VfL Wolfsburg	2017–18	Bundesliga	4	0	0	0	—		4	0
	2018–19	Bundesliga	24	2	2	0	—		26	2
	2019–20	Bundesliga	0	0	1	0	1^[a]	0	2	0
	Total		28	2	3	0	1	0	32	0
1. FC Köln (loan)	2019–20	Bundesliga	13	0	0	0	—		13	0
	2020–21	Bundesliga	30	5	3	2	—		33	7
	Total		43	5	3	2	—		46	7
VfL Bochum (loan)	2021–22	Bundesliga	32	0	4	0	—		36	0
FC Augsburg	2022–23	Bundesliga	31	0	2	0	—		33	0
	2023–24	Bundesliga	17	2	1	0	—		18	2
	2024–25	Bundesliga	16	1	3	1	—		19	2
	Total		64	3	6	1	—		70	4
Career total			214	22	16	3	1	0	231	25

^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 10 October 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Kosovo	2024	3	0
Total		3	0

References

^ ^a ^b "Rexhbeçaj me kontratë profesionale te Wolfsburgu" [Rexhbeçaj with professional contract at Wolfsburg] (in Albanian). Koha.net. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Elvis Rexhbeçaj". vfl-wolfsburg.de. VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Zyrtare: Talenti shqiptar nga Prizreni promovohet në ekipin e parë të Wolfsburgut (Foto)" [Official: Albanian talent from Prizren promoted to Wolfsburg's first team (Photo)]. prizrenpress.com (in Albanian). PrizrenPress. 20 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
^ "Dreier im Derby" (in German). VfL Wolfsburg. 28 January 2018. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
^ "Edhe një kosovar bëhet pjesë e Bundesligës, 20 vjeçari mbrëmë debutoi tek skuadra e njohur gjermane". Gazeta Blic (in Albanian). 28 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
^ Werner, Lars. "1. FC Köln leiht Mittelfeld-Talent Elvis Rexhbecaj vom VfL Wolfsburg aus". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
^ "Season-long loan for Rexhbecaj". VfL Wolfsburg. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
^ "FCA complete the signing of midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj". Augsburg. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
^ Arne Steinberg (5 January 2020). "Neuzugang Elvis Rexhbecaj: Aus dem Kosovo über die Autostadt nach Köln" [Newcomer Elvis Rexhbecaj: From Kosovo via the Autostadt to Cologne]. Effzeh.com (in German). Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
^ Thomas Hiete (18 February 2021). "Olympia? Rexhbecaj: "Kuntz hat mich auf die Liste gesetzt"" [Olympic Games? Rexhbecaj: "Kuntz put me on the list"] (in German). Kicker. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
^ ""Reja të do te Shqipëria", në Kosovë zbulojnë mesazhin e Salihit dërguar talentit që po shkëlqen në Bundesligë" ["Reja wants you to Albania", in Kosovo they reveal Salihi's message sent to the talent who is shining in the Bundesliga] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
^ "Elvis Rexhbeçaj i bashkohet Kombëtares së Kosovës" [Elvis Rexhbeçaj joins the Kosovo national team] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 13 July 2024.
^ "Foda publikon listën e futbollistëve dardanë për dy ndeshjet e shtatorit" [Foda publishes the list of Dardanian footballers for the September matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
^ "Formacionet zyrtare, Kosovë-Rumani: Debutojnë dy ardhjet e reja tek 'Dardanët'" [Official line-ups, Kosovo-Romania: The two new arrivals to 'Dardanians' make their debut] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 6 September 2024.
^ Elvis Rexhbeçaj at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 October 2020.

External links

Elvis Rexhbeçaj at Soccerway
Elvis Rexhbeçaj at DFB (also available in German)

[16] Appearance in UEFA Europa League

[koha-1] "Rexhbeçaj me kontratë profesionale te Wolfsburgu" [Rexhbeçaj with professional contract at Wolfsburg] (in Albanian). Koha.net. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.

[wolfsburg-2] "Elvis Rexhbeçaj". vfl-wolfsburg.de. VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.

[birthplace-3] "Zyrtare: Talenti shqiptar nga Prizreni promovohet në ekipin e parë të Wolfsburgut (Foto)" [Official: Albanian talent from Prizren promoted to Wolfsburg's first team (Photo)]. prizrenpress.com (in Albanian). PrizrenPress. 20 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.

[4] "Dreier im Derby" (in German). VfL Wolfsburg. 28 January 2018. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.

[5] "Edhe një kosovar bëhet pjesë e Bundesligës, 20 vjeçari mbrëmë debutoi tek skuadra e njohur gjermane". Gazeta Blic (in Albanian). 28 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.

[6] Werner, Lars. "1. FC Köln leiht Mittelfeld-Talent Elvis Rexhbecaj vom VfL Wolfsburg aus". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

[7] "Season-long loan for Rexhbecaj". VfL Wolfsburg. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.

[8] "FCA complete the signing of midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj". Augsburg. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

[9] Arne Steinberg (5 January 2020). "Neuzugang Elvis Rexhbecaj: Aus dem Kosovo über die Autostadt nach Köln" [Newcomer Elvis Rexhbecaj: From Kosovo via the Autostadt to Cologne]. Effzeh.com (in German). Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.

[10] Thomas Hiete (18 February 2021). "Olympia? Rexhbecaj: "Kuntz hat mich auf die Liste gesetzt"" [Olympic Games? Rexhbecaj: "Kuntz put me on the list"] (in German). Kicker. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

[11] ""Reja të do te Shqipëria", në Kosovë zbulojnë mesazhin e Salihit dërguar talentit që po shkëlqen në Bundesligë" ["Reja wants you to Albania", in Kosovo they reveal Salihi's message sent to the talent who is shining in the Bundesliga] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

[12] "Elvis Rexhbeçaj i bashkohet Kombëtares së Kosovës" [Elvis Rexhbeçaj joins the Kosovo national team] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 13 July 2024.

[13] "Foda publikon listën e futbollistëve dardanë për dy ndeshjet e shtatorit" [Foda publishes the list of Dardanian footballers for the September matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

[14] "Formacionet zyrtare, Kosovë-Rumani: Debutojnë dy ardhjet e reja tek 'Dardanët'" [Official line-ups, Kosovo-Romania: The two new arrivals to 'Dardanians' make their debut] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 6 September 2024.

[15] Elvis Rexhbeçaj at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 October 2020.

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