Medon Berisha

Medon Berisha
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-10-21) 21 October 2003
Place of birth Münsingen, Switzerland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Lecce
Number 10
Youth career
2008–2015 Bern 1894
2015–2022 Young Boys
2022–2023 Lecce
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Young Boys II 16 (1)
2023– Lecce 34 (2)
International career‡
2021 Albania U19 2 (0)
2022 Albania U20 2 (0)
2022 Kosovo U21 2 (0)
2022–2024 Albania U21 12 (3)
2024– Albania 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 November 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 4 September 2025

Medon Berisha (mɛˈdɔn bəˈɾiʃa; born 21 October 2003) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club Lecce. Born in Switzerland, he was a former youth international for Albania, and played for the Kosovo U21 in a pair of matches before switching back to play eventually for the Albania national team.

Berisha began his career in Switzerland with FC Bern and Young Boys before joining Italian side Lecce in 2022. After excelling with Primavera team and winning the 2022–23 national youth championship, he progressed to the senior squad, making his Serie A and Coppa Italia debuts the following season. By 2025, he had established himself as a first-team regular for Lecce in Serie A.

Internationally, Berisha initially represented Albania at under-19, but switched for Kosovo at under-21 level before switching allegiance back to Albania after obtaining his Albanian citizenship. He went on to captain the Albania U21 team during the qualifiers for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. In 2024, he made his senior debut for the Albania national team and was later included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2024, where he became the youngest player ever to appear for Albania in a European Championship at 20 years, 8 months and 3 days.

Club career

Early life and youth career

Berisha was born in Münsingen, Switzerland to Kosovar Albanian parents from Kaçanik.[1][2] He started playing football at the age of five.[3] Berisha began his youth football career with Bern 1894, where he developed his early skills and played until the age of 15.[4] He moved and developed his skills in the youth academy of BSC Young Boys in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, where he progressed through several age groups and gained attention for his technical ability and vision on the field.[5] He managed to play consecutively for U-17, U-18 and U-19 teams within two years, scoring several goals, especially during the 2019–20 U-18 League where he recorded 14 goals in 28 appearances, before eventually debuting as a senior in September 2021 with the Young Boys under-21 team in 2021–22 Promotion League, the third tier of the Swiss football system, where he also scored.[6][7][8]

Lecce

In early 2022, Berisha joined the youth academy of Italian club Lecce, where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising attacking midfielders in the Primavera squad.[9] He contributed with 13 appearances, scoring 2 goals.[6]

After impressing at youth level, he was promoted to the first team ahead of the 2022–23 season. In August 2022, Berisha received his first senior call-ups for matches in the Coppa Italia against Cittadella and in Serie A against Inter, remaining an unused substitute in both games.[2] He was a regular starter throughout the 2022–23 Primavera 1 season, playing all 34 league matches and scoring 10 goals, plus contributing in the final phase, helping Lecce Primavera to win the 2022-23 Primavera championship, defeating Fiorentina 1–0 in the final and also featuring in 3 matches of the Coppa Primavera, scoring 1 goal.[6][10][11] In the following 2023–24 season, Berisha was regularly included in Lecce’s matchday squads for both Serie A and Coppa Italia fixtures. He made six league appearances and one in the cup, totaling fewer than 300 minutes of play.[2] He made his senior debut for Lecce on 1 November 2023 in the Coppa Italia second round, a 4–2 loss against Parma.[12] His Serie A debut followed on 25 February 2024 in a 4–0 away defeat to Inter.[13] In the 2024–25 season, Berisha established himself as a regular starter for Lecce, although his campaign was affected by occasional injuries. He finished the season with 17 league appearances and one in the Coppa Italia.[6] In October 2024, Berisha renewed his contract with Lecce, extending his stay at the club until 30 June 2028.[14][15]

International career

Berisha was initially called up by the Albania U19 squad; however, due to bureaucratic issues in obtaining his Albanian passport,[16] he represented Kosovo at U21 level,[17] making a few appearances for their youth side.[18] Once his Albanian citizenship process was completed,[19] Albania U20 and U21 coach, Alban Bushi, initially called him up to the Albania U20 squad,[20] and later to the Albania U21 squad,[20] offering him the captaincy,[21] which he accepted, leading the team during the qualification for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he scored 2 goals in process.[6]

On 27 May 2024, Berisha received his first senior call-up from coach Sylvinho for Albania’s preliminary UEFA Euro 2024 squad.[22] He made his senior debut on 3 June 2024 in a 3–0 friendly win over Liechtenstein, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Jasir Asani.[23] During the UEFA Euro 2024 group stage tournament, Berisha made his competitive debut for Albania in the match against Spain, coming on as a second-half substitute. At 20 years, 8 months and 3 days old, he became the youngest player ever to appear for Albania in a European Championship, breaking the previous record held by Mario Mitaj.[24]

Style of play

Berisha's natural position is central midfielder but he can also play as a left winger and is known for his passing ability.[25][26][11]

Personal life

Berisha received an Albanian passport in August 2023.[19] He has stated that he grew up supporting FC Barcelona and admires Lionel Messi.[3]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 November 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[6][2][7]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Young Boys U-21 2021–22 Promotion League 16 1 — — — 16 1
Lecce 2022–23 Serie A 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
2023–24 Serie A 6 0 1 0 — — 7 0
2024–25 Serie A 17 0 1 0 — — 18 0
2025–26 Serie A 11 2 1 0 — — 12 2
Total 34 2 3 0 — — 37 2
Career total 46 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 48 3

International

As of match played 4 September 2025[27]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Albania 2024 3 0
2025 1 0
Total 4 0

Honours

Lecce Primavera

References

  1. ^ "Medon Berisha merr fanellën ikonike me numrin 10 te Lecce". Kerlacki.com. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Medon Berisha at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b "Medon Berisha: Dua Kombëtaren dhe Champions". sport.rtsh.al. rtsh.al. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Të Lecce e konsiderojnë talent – Medon Berisha gati". sportiim.al. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Kush është Medon Berisha, befasi në listën e Sylvinhos". Koha.net. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Medon Berisha at BeSoccer
  7. ^ a b "Medon Berisha". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  8. ^ "FC Zürich II vs Young Boys II". BeSoccer. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Medon Berisha, talenti i Lecces që pritet të shpërthejë në futbollin italian". Koha.net. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Berisha conquista il Via del Mare". Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Geometrie e personalità: il Lecce si gode il talento di Medon Berisha". Tuttomercatoweb. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Lecce vs Parma 2–4". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Inter vs Lecce 4–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Official: The "red" midfielder renews until 2028 with Lecce". Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Berisha continues his contract with Lecce". Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Babai i Medon Berishës: Mos bëni teatër, Kosovën s'e lamë për Serbinë por për Shqipërinë" [Medon Berisha’s father: Don't make theater, we didn’t leave Kosovo for Serbia but for Albania] (in Albanian). Nacionale. 16 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Kosova U21: Publikohet lista për ndeshjet ndaj Andorrës, Anglisë e Shqipërisë" [Kosovo U21: List for matches against Andorra, England and Albania is published]. Lajmi.net (in Albanian). 30 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Medon Berisha kishte qenë pjesë e Kosovës U21, para se të bindej ta veshte fanellën e Shqipërisë". albinfo.ch (in Albanian). 1 June 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  19. ^ a b "PËR DHËNIE TË SHTETËSISË SHQIPTARE" [For giving the Albanian citizenship]. qbz..gov.al (in Albanian). Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare. 14 August 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Kombëtarja U-20 / Flet Bushi: Miqësoret vlejnë për të formuar grupin e ri, ka disa talente gati për Kombëtaren A" [U-20 National Team / Bushi speaks: Friendlies are useful for forming the new group, there are some talents ready for the A National Team] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Federation. 20 September 2022.
  21. ^ "U-20/ Shqipëria mbyll miqësoret e shtatorit ndaj Kroacisë" [U-20/ Albania closes September friendlies against Croatia] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Federation. 25 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Dikur ishte pjesë e Kosovës, tani Medon Berisha pjesë e Shqipërisë në EURO" (in Albanian). Podujeva Sot. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  23. ^ "Albania-Liechtenstein | European Qualifiers 2024". UEFA. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  24. ^ "EURO 2024, Medon Berisha i thyen rekordin Mario Mitajt në Kombëtare". Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Chi è Medon Berisha?". seriebnews.com. Serie B. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  26. ^ Ekspres, Sport. "Ishte emri që i la të gjithë pa fjalë në listën e Euro24! Kush është Medon Berisha? Një Mario Mitaj i ri në stilin e Kristjan Asllanit". Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  27. ^ Medon Berisha at EU-Football.info
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