Arbnor Muja (born 29 November 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Turkish club Samsunspor. Born in Kosovo, he plays for the Albania national team.

Arbnor Muja
Muja in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Mitrovica, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Samsunspor
Number 98
Youth career
2006–2015 Bardhi
2015–2016 Trepça
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Trepça 4 (0)
2017–2018 Trepça '89 2 (0)
2018–2019 Eintracht Braunschweig II 17 (7)
2019–2021 Skënderbeu Korçë 9 (1)
2020–2021Trepça '89 (loan) 40 (9)
2021–2022 Drita 20 (4)
2022–2024 Antwerp 50 (8)
2024– Samsunspor 21 (3)
International career
2018–2019 Kosovo U21 6 (0)
2023– Albania 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2023

Club career

edit

Eintracht Braunschweig II

edit

On 15 August 2018, Muja signed a two-year contract with Oberliga Niedersachsen club Eintracht Braunschweig II.[1] Seventeen days later, he made his debut against Arminia Hannover after being named in the starting line-up and scored his side's second goal during a 3–3 home draw.[2] One month after debut, he was named as a first team substitute for the first time in the 2018–19 Lower Saxony Cup quarter-finals against SV Drochtersen/Assel.[3]

Skënderbeu Korçë

edit

On 31 August 2019, Muja signed a two-year contract with Kategoria Superiore club Skënderbeu Korçë.[4] Fourteen days later, he made his debut in a 3–1 away defeat against Tirana after coming on as a substitute in the 41st minute in place of injured Gjergji Muzaka.[5]

Return to Trepça '89 as loan

edit

On 31 January 2020, Muja joined as loan to Kosovo Superleague club Trepça '89.[6] One month later, he made his debut in a 3–0 away defeat against Feronikeli after being named in the starting line-up.[7]

Drita

edit

On 16 June 2021, Muja signed a three-year contract with Kosovo Superleague club Drita.[8] On 8 July 2021, he made his debut with Drita in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round against the Montenegrin side Dečić after being named in the starting line-up,[9] and assists in his side's second goal during a 2–1 home win.[10]

Antwerp

edit

On 28 July 2022, Belgian First Division A club Antwerp reached an agreement with Drita for the transfer of Muja and this deal was made a few minutes after Antwerp defeated Drita in the second leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round.[11] Eight days later, the club confirmed that Muja's transfer was permanent and he received squad number 11.[12] Antwerp reportedly paid a €400 thousand transfer fee, becoming the most expensive transfer in the history of the Kosovo Superleague.[13] His debut with Antwerp came on 2 October in a 2–1 away defeat against Kortrijk after coming on as a substitute in the 45th minute in place of Koji Miyoshi.[14]

Samsunspor

edit

On 9 February 2024, Samsunspor announced to have signed Muja on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[15] He scored on his Süper Lig debut three days later, in a 2–0 home win over Antalyaspor, after coming off the bench in the second half.[16]

International career

edit

Kosovo

edit

On 4 October 2018, Muja received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Israel U21,[17] and made his debut after coming on as a substitute at 64th minute in place of Muharrem Jashari.[18]

On 17 March 2023, Muja received a call-up from Kosovo for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Israel and Andorra,[19] but he was an unused substitute in these matches. In June 2023, Muja received again a call-up from Kosovo for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Romania and Belarus, but he declined the call-up as he had not received a guarantee that he will start in these matches.[20]

Albania

edit

On 15 August 2023, Muja obtained the Albanian passport, making him eligible to play for the Albania national team.[21] Head of the Department of Public Relations of the Albanian Football Association, Andi Verçani confirmed two days later through an interview for Koha Ditore that Muja will be called up by Albania in September 2023 for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Czech Republic and Poland.[22] On 1 September 2023, he formalizes the decision and accept their call-up for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Czech Republic and Poland.[23] He made his debut in the match drawn 1–1 at home to the Czechs.[24]

Personal life

edit

Muja was born in Mitrovica, FR Yugoslavia and is the younger brother Ardian Muja is a footballer who plays as a right winger for the Kosovan club Prishtina,[25] and have been teammates in the Kosovan clubs Trepça (before 2017) and Trepça '89 (2017–2018, 2021–2022).[26]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of 11 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Trepça 2016–17 Kosovo Superleague 4 0 4 0
Trepça '89 2017–18 Kosovo Superleague 2 0 2 0
Eintracht Braunschweig II 2018–19 Oberliga Niedersachsen 17 7 17 7
Skënderbeu Korçë 2019–20 Albanian Superliga 9 1 2 1 11 2
Trepça '89 (loan) 2019–20 Kosovo Superleague 11 1 11 1
2020–21 Kosovo Superleague 31 8 1 0 32 8
Total 42 9 1 0 43 9
Drita 2021–22 Kosovo Superleague 20 4 3 2 4[a] 0 27 6
2022–23 Kosovo Superleague 4[a] 2 4 2
Total 20 4 3 2 8 2 31 8
Antwerp 2022–23 Belgian Pro League 21 3 6 1 6 0 33 4
2023–24 Belgian Pro League 14 4 1 0 4[b] 1 1 0 20 5
Total 35 7 7 1 4 1 7 0 53 9
Samsunspor 2023–24 Süper Lig 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 129 28 13 4 12 3 7 0 161 35

International

edit
As of match played 17 November 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Albania 2023 5 0
Total 5 0

Honours

edit

Antwerp

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

References

edit
  1. ^ "Arbnor Muja kalon nga Trepça '89 te Eintracht Braunschweig" [Arbnor Muja passes from Trepça '89 to Eintracht Braunschweig] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 15 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Eintracht Braunschweig II – Arminia Hannover 3:3". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. ^ "D/A schlägt Braunschweig – Der Liveticker (zum Nachlesen)" [D/A beats Braunschweig – The Live Ticker (for reading)] (in German). SV Drochtersen/Assel. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Tjetër talent për Skënderbeun, prezantohet Arbnor Muja" [Another talent for Skënderbeu, Arbnor Muja is introduced] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. 31 August 2019.
  5. ^ "VIDEO/Tirana me hap pretendenti, likuidon Skënderbeun dhe nis shkëputjen" [VIDEO/Tirana opens the contender, liquidates Skënderbeu and starts secession] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 14 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Arbnor Muja kalon nga Skenderbeu në Trepça 89" [Arbnor Muja passes from Skenderbeu to Trepça 89]. Insporti (in Albanian). 1 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Formacionet zyrtare: Feronikeli – Trepça '89" [Official line-ups: Feronikeli – Trepça '89]. TopSporti (in Albanian). 29 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Zyrtare: 'Bombs' Drita, prezanton transferin më të ri" [Official: 'Bombardon' Drita, presents the newest transfer]. Gazeta Olle (in Albanian). 16 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Formacionet zyrtare, Drita – Deçiçi: Gjilanasit duan fitore në Conference League" [Official line-ups, Drita – Deçiçi: Gjilanians want victory in Conference League] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 8 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Drita mposht Deçiçin me rikthim në Conference League, ndeshje e tensionuar në disa momente" [Drita defeats Deçiç with a return to the Conference League, a tense match at times] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 8 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Publikohet fotografia e Arbnor Mujës pas marrëveshjes për transferimin te Antwerp" [The photo of Arbnor Muja after the agreement for the transfer to Antwerp is published]. IndeksOnline (in Albanian). 28 July 2022.
  12. ^ "RAFC versterkt zich met Arbnor Muja" [RAFC strengthens with Arbnor Muja] (in Dutch). Royal Antwerp F.C. 5 August 2022.
  13. ^ "ZYRTARE/Skënderbeu e la të lirë 1 vit më parë, klubi shqiptar fiton 400 mijë euro nga sulmuesi" [OFFICIAL/Skënderbeu released him 1 year ago, the Albanian club earns 400 thousand euros from the striker]. Newsport.al (in Albanian). 5 August 2022.
  14. ^ @official_rafc (2 October 2022). "'45 Muja kwam vlak voor rust voor Miyoshi. Nainggolan werd bij de rust vervangen door Ekkelenkamp.#KVKANT" (Tweet) (in Dutch) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Zyrtare/ Arbnor Muja firmos për 3.5 vite në Superligën e Turqisë". Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). 9 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Arbnor Muja lë gjurmë në Turqi, shënon në debutim". Liberale (in Albanian). 12 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Prekazi publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjen kundër Izraelit" [Prekazi publishes the list of footballers for the match against Israel] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Israel U21 vs. Kosovo U21 3–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Alain Giresse publikon listen e futbollistëve për dy ndeshjet e marsit" [Alain Giresse publishes the list of footballers for the two March matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 17 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Giresse: Muja ka kërkuar garanci për vendin e titullarit" [Giresse: Muja has asked for a guarantee for the starting position] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 9 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Arbnor Muja pajiset me pasaportë shqiptare" [Arbnor Muja is provided with an Albanian passport] (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 16 August 2023.
  22. ^ "FSHF-ja konfirmon se Arbnor Muja do të ftohet në shtator nga Sylvinho" [The AFA confirms that Arbnor Muja will be invited in September by Sylvinho] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 17 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Kualifikueset e Euro 2024 / Sylvinho zbardh listën me emrat e 25 lojtarëve për sfidat me Çekinë & Poloninë" [Euro 2024 Qualifiers / Sylvinho releases the list of the 25 players for the matches against Czechia and Poland] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  24. ^ "EURO 2024/ Shqipëria barazon me Çekinë në Pragë" (in Albanian). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Ardian Muja intends to follow the path of his brother, Arbnor". Koha Ditore. 8 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Zyrtare: Trepça '89 realizon dy përforcimet e para" [Official: Trepça '89 makes the first two reinforcements]. Gazeta Infokus (in Albanian). 29 May 2017.
  27. ^ "Antwerp win Belgian title on dramatic final day". BBC Sport. 4 June 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  28. ^ "Geen schoonheidsprijs, wel een vierde beker: Antwerp maakt favorietenrol waar tegen KV Mechelen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 30 April 2023.
edit