Astrit Ajdarević

Early career

Ajdarević began his career in 1996 in his adopted nation of Sweden. He first played for Rinia IF, and later signed with Falkenbergs FF, where he played in the 2006 season, making five appearances for the side.

Liverpool FC

On 5 December 2006, Ajdarević completed a second trial at Liverpool and transferred soon afterwards to the club, having impressed the club's coaching staff. He made his Liverpool youth team debut in the FA Youth Cup victory against Reading in January 2007. However, Ajdarević was unable to make a breakthrough into the first team at Liverpool.

Loan to Leicester City

Ajdarević joined Leicester City on trial in January 2009 and signed for the Foxes on the loan signing deadline for football league clubs on 26 March 2009 until the end of that season, when the Midlands-based club had the option to sign him permanently. He made his debut as a second-half substitute replacing Max Gradel after 70 minutes of Leicester's 2–2 draw with Carlisle United at the Walkers Stadium.

Leicester City

On 30 June 2009, Ajdarević joined Leicester permanently having been released by Liverpool, signing a one-year deal. However, Ajdarević struggled in the first team at Leicester City and a result, he went on trial at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Loan to Hereford

After a trial, Ajdarević joined Hereford United on loan until the end of the season, linking up with Leicester teammate Craig King on 25 March 2010. Ajdarević made his…

Ajdarević was eligible to play for Sweden by upbringing, Kosovo by birth and Albania.

Sweden

After previously played for Sweden U17 and Sweden U19, Ajdarević made his Sweden U21 debut on 7 October 2010, where he was sent–off for the second bookable offence, in a 1–1 draw against Austria U21. It wasn't until 2 June 2011 when he made another Sweden U21 appearance, in a 4–0 win over Norway U21. The following year on 6 June 2012, Ajdarević scored his first national team goal, in a 4–0 win over Malta U21. Three months later on 10 September 2012, he scored and set up the second goal of the game, in a 2–1 win over Ukraine U21. Despite hopes of earning attention from the senior team, Ajdarević was on the stand-by instead for the UEFA Euro 2016 and was cut from the squad as a result. Nevertheless, Ajdarević was called up by Sweden U23 team for 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and was appointed captain soon after. On 4 August 2016, Ajdarević scored in the opening game against Colombia, which saw them draw 2–2. However, in the next two games, Sweden lost against Nigeria U23 and Japan U23, which saw them out of the tournament.

Albania

In an interview for the Albanian program "Zona Gol" part of SuperSport Albania, Digitalb on 28 October 2017, he admitted that he has promised the Albania national team's coach Christian Panucci to play for Albania. He was called up immediately to Albania by coach Panucci for the friendly match against Turkey on 13 November…

Club

As of 14 January 2018

International

As of 13 November 2017

Born in Pristina to Albanian parents originally from Medveđa, he moved with his family to Sweden in 1992. The family name was Hajdari but since his father played in Yugoslavian league, they switched it to "Ajdarević". His father Agim Ajdarević was a member of FK Spartak Subotica in the Yugoslav First League in the 1980s and 1990s, and moved to Sweden in 1992; he later signed with Falkenbergs FF. His younger brothers, Arben and Alfred, are also footballers. Ajdarević said he considers himself Albanian. Ajdarević is married to Albanian model Mimoza Ponosheci. In September 2018, he became a father when Mimoza gave birth to twins.