Taulant Xhaka

Early years

Taulant Xhaka started playing football at the age of six and began his career at Concordia Basel in 2000, before moving along with his brother to Basel two years later. He played for various Basel youth teams and, from 2008, became a regular member of the under-21 team for two years in the Swiss 1. Liga, playing 37 games overall and scoring six goals.

Basel

At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, he and his brother Granit moved up into the first team squad, where he began playing as a defender. He made his first team debut on 19 September 2010 in the 5–0 Swiss Cup win against Mendrisio-Stabio. He made his Super League debut on 27 February 2011 in the 1–0 away win against Luzern. At the end of the season, the team won the Super League title, Xhaka's first silverware with the club. In the next season, Xhaka scored his first Basel goal on 10 September during the 4–0 away league win against Servette, where he came on as a substitute. On 27 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute in the 3–3 away draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Loan to Grasshoppers

On 18 January 2012, it was announced Xhaka was sent on loan to Grasshoppers to gain first-team playing experience. He made his Grasshoppers debut on 12 February during the 2–0 away defeat to Zürich, and until the end of the season he established himself in the starting lineup, making 13 appearances during the second part of 2011–12 season. He also spent…

Switzerland

Xhaka begun his international career with Switzerland by playing with the under-17 side at the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He played in all three matches as starter, unable to prevent the team's early elimination from the competition. In the next two years, Xhaka also featured with under-18 and the -19 teams. His Swiss under-20 debut came on 6 September 2010 in a 2–3 loss to Germany at Stadion Breite. One year later, Xhaka earned his first under-21 cap in the 1–0 away win versus Georgia. He played his first match as starter in another match versus them which ended in a 5–0 win at Cornaredo Stadium. Overall, Xhaka played 41 matches for Switzerland youth squads.

Albania

2013: Changing teams

In May 2013, Xhaka expressed his wish to represent Albania senior team, adding that his choice of Albania was definitive. Later in October, he told the media that his choice to play for Albania was influenced by his younger brother Granit. On 18 December of the same year, he received Albanian citizenship, though he still required approval from FIFA in order to represent Albania internationally.

2014–16: First call-ups, UEFA Euro 2016

Xhaka received his first call-up by manager Gianni De Biasi for the friendly against Malta on 5 March 2014, but was forced to withdraw due to an injury suffered just three days before the match. He was invited again in May for three friendlies against Romania, Hungary and San Marino but…

Xhaka was born in Basel, Switzerland, to Albanian parents originally from Kosovo. He is the elder brother of Granit Xhaka, who is also a professional footballer, and who plays for Sunderland and the Switzerland national team. The family moved from Kosovo to Switzerland in 1990, where both brothers were born.

Following Albania's historic participation at UEFA Euro 2016, Xhaka was among the members of the national team who were issued diplomatic passports by the Albanian government in recognition of their achievement. On 7 January 2018, Xhaka was engaged to his long-time Albanian girlfriend, Arbnora Nuredini; they married that year.