Donis Avdijaj

Donis Avdijaj

Avdijaj playing for Sturm Graz in 2015
Personal information
Full name Donis Xhemë Avdijaj
Date of birth (1996-08-25) 25 August 1996
Place of birth Osnabrück, Germany
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Sturm Graz
(on loan from Schalke 04)
Number 77
Youth career
2001–2006 SV Atter
2006–2011 VfL Osnabrück
2011–2014 Schalke 04
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2014 Schalke 04 II 11 (4)
2014– Schalke 04 0 (0)
2015– → Sturm Graz (loan) 34 (8)
National team
2011 Germany U16 2 (2)
2012–2014 Germany U17 13 (10)
2013–2014 Germany U19 2 (0)
2016- Albania 0 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:14, 21 March 2016 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Donis Xhemë Avdijaj (born 25 August 1996) is a German-Albanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Austrian club Sturm Graz on loan from Schalke 04.[1]

Career

Schalke 04

After scoring 59 goals in 53 matches for U-17 and 17 goals in 24 games for U-19, he became a first team player.[2] Avdijaj was called up for the first time on a major competition on 17 September 2014 to participate in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage match against Chelsea, where he didn't come in to play.[3] After interest from Liverpool, Schalke gave him a £41 million release clause.[4]

Sturm Graz

On 13 January 2015 in the winter transfer window, Avdiaj went on an 18-month loan deal at Austrian side SK Sturm Graz. Avdijaj made his debut for Sturm Graz in a friendly match against Kalsdorf and scored a goal.[5]

2014–15 season

He made his professional debut on 21 February 2015 in a 3–3 home draw against Wiener Neustadt. He came in as a substitute in the 81st minute in place of Bright Edomwonyi and just 2 minutes after, Avdijaj made an assist for the temporary advantage goal 3–2 scored by Martin Ehrenreich.[6] In his next second match even, Avdijaj played only as a substitute against Rapid Wien coming on in the 73rd minute in place of Daniel Offenbacher for the 1–0 loss.[7] Then his next third match Avdijaj played it for the first time in the starting line up against Austria Wien on 3 March 2015 where he substituted off in the 64th minute for exactly his rival Bright Edomwonyi, which Avdijaj previously in his first debut had taken his place.[8] He scored his first goal for Sturm Graz in his 7th match on 21 March 2015 against Admira, playing as a starter and scoring in the 28th minute the opening goal in the 3–1 victory.[9] After the 26th game week Avdijaj established himself in the starting line up playing as a side midfielder mostly at left side, attacking midfielder and also as a second striker.

He ended up the season with total of 17 appearances, 12 as a starter including 8 full 90-minute matches where he managed to score in total 6 goals and provided 3 assists. Sturm Graz finished 4th in the rank table to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.[10]

2015–16 season

Avdijaj started the 2015–16 with an impressive performance on 18 July 2015 against Hartberg valid for the 2015–16 Austrian Cup first round by scoring one goal, providing one assist and winning a penalty to help his side to take an away 0–6 victory.[11]

International career

On 11 October 2014 Avdijaj announced to have refused the Germany national under-19 football team as his intention was to represent Albania,[12][13] where he said: "it's better to have behind my own people, rather than foreigners" and he needed just an Albanian citizenship for him to be part of the national team managed by Gianni De Biasi.[14] In November 2014 the coach Gianni De Biasi declared that he spoke with his father and the FC Schalke 04 coach Roberto Di Matteo for the situation of Avdijaj if he would play for the first team as a professional, a condition of De Biasi to invite him in the national team.[15] In December 2014 Donis' father confirmed the family's desire that the footballer represents Albania in the future.[16] In March 2015 Avdijaj told Albanian media that he has personally met with De Biasi and is looking forward to a call-up.[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of 18 July 2015 [18]
Season Club League country League League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2013–14 Schalke 04 Bundesliga 00----00
2014–15 Schalke 04 II Regionalliga 114----114
Schalke 04 Bundesliga 00--0000
Total Schalke 04 00000000
Total Schalke 04 II 1140000114
Sturm Graz Austrian Bundesliga 17600--176
2015–16 52111174
Total 22811112410
Career total 291511003516

References

  1. ↑ Newman, Benjamin (2014-10-14). "18-year-old Schalke striker Donis Avdijaj (€50m exit clause) opts to play for Albania over Germany". 101 Great Goals. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  2. ↑ Donis Avdijaj: Why Did Schalke Send €49 Million Talent to Sturm Graz? Bleacher Report
  3. ↑ Chelsea vs. Schalke 04 - 17 September 2014 - Soccerway
  4. ↑ Schalke look to ward off Liverpool interest in wonderkid Avdijaj, Valencia back in for Hernandez and Everton target Fazio THE TRANSFER COLUMN Daily Mail
  5. ↑ Donis Avdijaj huazohet nga Schalke shënon gol në Austri Shqiptarja.com
  6. ↑ Sturm Graz vs. Wiener Neustadt - 21 February 2015 - Soccerway
  7. ↑ Rapid Wien vs. Sturm Graz - 28 February 2015 - Soccerway
  8. ↑ Sturm Graz vs. Austria Wien - 3 March 2015 - Soccerway
  9. ↑ Sturm Graz vs. Admira - 21 March 2015 - Soccerway
  10. ↑ Summary - Bundesliga - Austria - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway
  11. ↑ Hartberg vs. Sturm Graz - 18 July 2015 - Soccerway
  12. ↑ Bonn, Kyle (2014-10-14). "Germany suffers huge blow as 18-year-old Schalke youth star chooses Albania". NBCSports.com. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  13. ↑ Avdijaj zgjedh Shqipërinë? Telegrafi
  14. ↑ Avdijaj: Pres me padurim debutimin kuqezi Albeu.com "Më mirë të kem pas shpinës popullin tim sesa popullin e huaj." "Tanimë 18-vjecarit të lindur në Osnabruck të Gjermanisë, i mbeten vetëm për të plotësuar dokomentacionin dhe të jetë pjesë e përzgjedhjes së Giani De Biasit, që gjithmonë e më shumë po i frikëson kombëtaret e tjera."
  15. ↑ De Biazi falenderon tifozët, flet për Ajetin, Avdijajn, Karabecin... aSport.al "Të henën bisedova me babain e tij, do të flas gjithashtu dhe me Di Matteon për situatën e futbollistit te Schalke. Nëse Avdiaj do të luajë për ekipin e parë të Schalkes nuk do të ketë asnjë problem për t’u grumbulluar në kombëtare"
  16. ↑ Familja Avdijaj: Donisi dëshiron të luaj për Shqipërinë, De Biazi nuk na e hapi telefonin! aSport.al
  17. ↑ Telegrafi 8 March 2015Eksluzive: Avdijaj rrëfen takimin me De Biasin
  18. ↑ Donis Avdijaj profile at Soccerway

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