Florian Kamberi (born 8 March 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga I club Politehnica Iași.

Florian Kamberi
Personal information
Full name Florian Kamberi[1]
Date of birth (1995-03-08) 8 March 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Lachen, Switzerland
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2+12 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Politehnica Iași
Number 22
Youth career
0000 Tuggen
0000–2013 Grasshopper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Rapperswil-Jona 7 (1)
2014–2017 Grasshopper U21 26 (21)
2015–2018 Grasshopper 32 (3)
2016–2017Karlsruher SC (loan) 15 (1)
2018Hibernian (loan) 14 (9)
2018–2020 Hibernian 53 (11)
2020Rangers (loan) 6 (1)
2020–2022 St. Gallen 8 (0)
2021Aberdeen (loan) 11 (0)
2021–2022Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 23 (4)
2022 Winterthur 13 (1)
2023 Huddersfield Town 1 (0)
2023–2024 Slaven Belupo 5 (0)
2024– Politehnica Iași 12 (2)
International career
2015 Switzerland U20 1 (0)
2015–2016 Switzerland U21 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2021

Kamberi has previously played for Grasshopper, Karlsruher SC, Hibernian, Rangers and Huddersfield Town. He represented Switzerland at the under-21 level, and has since been selected for the Albania squad.

Club career

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Grasshoppers

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Kamberi started his professional career with Swiss club Grasshoppers. On 31 August 2016, Kamberi was loaned to Karlsruher SC for the 2016–17 season in 2. Bundesliga.[2][3]

Hibernian

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Kamberi went on trial with Scottish Premiership club Hibernian in January 2018,[4] and moved there on loan on 31 January.[5] Kamberi made his debut for Hibernian later that day, and scored the first goal in a 2–1 win against Motherwell.[6] Kamberi scored a hat-trick for Hibs on 3 April, in a 3–1 win against Hamilton.[7][8]

In June 2018, Hibernian signed Kamberi to a three-year contract.[9] Kamberi scored a hat-trick in a Europa League qualifier against NSÍ Runavík on 12 July.[10]

Loan spell to Rangers

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Kamberi moved on loan to Rangers on 31 January 2020.[11] Following the end of this loan period, and after a period spent in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kamberi returned to Hibernian for pre-season training in June 2020.[12]

St. Gallen

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On 6 August 2020, Kamberi moved back to his native Switzerland to sign for St. Gallen on a three-year deal.[13][14] Kamberi tested positive for COVID-19 in November 2020, and played infrequently for St. Gallen during the early part of the 2020–21 season.[15]

Kamberi was released from his contract by St. Gallen on 23 June 2022.[16]

Loan spell to Aberdeen

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On 1 February 2021, Kamberi completed a loan switch back to Scotland to sign with Aberdeen until the end of the season.[17]

Sheffield Wednesday (loan)

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On 30 July 2021, Kamberi moved on a season-long loan deal to England to join recently relegated League One side Sheffield Wednesday.[18] He would make his debut on the opening day of the season against Charlton Athletic coming off the bench to replace Callum Paterson after he suffered a nasty head injury.[19] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 win at Rotherham United on 21 August 2021.[20]

Winterthur

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On 7 July 2022, Kamberi signed with Winterthur.[21] His contract with the club was cancelled on 29 November 2022.[22]

Huddersfield Town

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On 5 January 2023, Kamberi joined EFL Championship side Huddersfield Town on a short-term deal until the end of the season.[23]

Slaven Belupo

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On 11 October 2023, Kamberi joined Croatian Football League club Slaven Belupo on a contract until the end of the season.[24]

International career

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Kamberi was born in Switzerland and is of Kosovan descent,[25][26][27] which made him eligible to represent Switzerland, Kosovo and Albania.[28] Kamberi played in youth internationals for Switzerland,[29] and he scored for their under-21 team in a 1–1 draw against England in March 2016.[30]

Kamberi was included in the Albania squad for the first time in November 2019.[31] Delays in processing the paperwork required to transfer his international status from Switzerland to Albania, and a slight ankle injury, meant that he was unable to play in their matches with Andorra and France.[32]

On 17 March 2021, Kamberi was called up by the Albania national team ahead of their World Cup Qualifiers against Andorra, England and San Marino.[33]

Career statistics

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As of 9 November 2024[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rapperswil-Jona 2013–14 1. Liga Classic 7 1 0 0 2[a] 0 9 1
Grasshopper U21 2014–15 1. Liga Classic 21 15 21 15
2015–16 1. Liga Classic 3 4 3 4
2017–18 1. Liga Classic 2 2 2 2
Total 26 21 26 21
Grasshopper 2015–16[35] Swiss Super League 28 3 1 0 29 3
2016–17[36] Swiss Super League 4 0 0 0 5[b] 0 9 0
Total 32 3 1 0 5 0 38 3
Karlsruher SC (loan) 2016–17[36] 2. Bundesliga 15 1 0 0 15 1
Hibernian (loan) 2017–18[37] Scottish Premiership 14 9 0 0 0 0 14 9
Hibernian 2018–19[38][c] Scottish Premiership 33 8 3 1 1 0 6[b] 4 43 13
2019–20[39] Scottish Premiership 20 3 2 0 5 5 27 8
Total 53 11 5 1 6 5 6 4 70 21
Rangers (loan) 2019–20[39] Scottish Premiership 6 1 0 0 0 0 3[b] 0 9 1
St. Gallen 2020–21[40] Swiss Super League 8 0 0 0 1[b] 0 9 0
Aberdeen (loan) 2020–21[40] Scottish Premiership 11 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 14 1
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2021–22[41] EFL League One 23 4 2 0 0 0 2[d] 1 27 5
Winterthur 2022–23 Swiss Super League 13 1 1 0 0 0 14 1
Huddersfield Town 2022–23[42] Championship 1 0 1 1 2 1
Slaven Belupo 2023–24 HNL 5 0 1 0 6 0
Politehnica Iași 2024–25 Liga I 12 2 0 0 12 2
Career total 226 54 14 3 6 5 19 5 264 67
  1. ^ Appearances in 1. Liga Classic-Play-off
  2. ^ a b c d Appearances in the Europa League
  3. ^ Soccerbase did not record appearances made by Kamberi against NSI Runavik on 19 July and Asteras Tripolis on 26 July and 2 August, and Molde on 9 August and 16 August 2018.
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

References

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  1. ^ "EFL - Squad List 2022/23 & U21 Registered Contracted Players" (PDF). 8 February 2023. p. 64. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  2. ^ "KSC angelt sich Kamberi" (in German). kicker online. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. ^ "GC leiht Stürmer Kamberi an Karlsruhe aus" (in Swiss High German). St. Galler Tagblatt. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Florian Kamberi: Hibernian poised to sign Swiss striker on loan from Grasshoppers". BBC Sport. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  5. ^ "FLORIAN KAMBERI JOINS ON LOAN". Hibernian FC. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Hibernian 2–1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  7. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (3 April 2018). "Hibernian 3–1 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Hibernian 3–1 Hamilton: Florian Kamberi aims for second after hat-trick". BBC Sport. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Hibernian: Swiss striker Florian Kamberi signs three-year deal". BBC Sport. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Hibernian 6–1 NSÍ Runavík". BBC Sport. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  11. ^ McLauchlin, Brian; Winton, Richard (31 January 2020). "Florian Kamberi: Rangers sign Hibs striker after Jermain Defoe injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Hibernian striker Florian Kamberi returns to Scotland ahead of pre-season training". Edinburghlive.co.uk. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  13. ^ Pilcher, Ross (6 August 2020). "Flo Kamberi finally seals Hibs exit as he joins St Gallen after Rangers loan spell". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  14. ^ "FCSG Verpflichtung-Kamberi". FC St.Gallen 1879 (in German). 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  15. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (20 January 2021). "Florian Kamberi 'could leave St Gallen' as former Hibs striker linked with moves to England and Germany". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Kamberi und Gonzalez verlassen den FCSG" (in German). St. Gallen. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Dons seal Kamberi loan deal". Aberdeen FC. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Owls sign Florian Kamberi". www.swfc.co.uk. 30 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Report: Charlton 0-0 Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Rotherham 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  21. ^ "FLORIAN KAMBERI VERSTÄRKT DIE OFFENSIVE" (in German). Winterthur. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  22. ^ "KAMBERI VERLÄSST DEN FCW" (in German). Winterthur. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  23. ^ "SIGNING: FLORIAN KAMBERI JOINS TOWN!". htafc.com. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Florian Kamberi novi je igrač Slaven Belupa" [Florian Kamberi is the new player of Slaven Belup]. nk-slaven-belupo.hr (in Croatian). 11 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Kosovo football player Florian Kamberi, excels in the Swiss Super League". Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Republic of Kosovo.
  26. ^ Blick (3 August 2015). "Florian Kamberi: Das ist der junge GC-Derby-Held".
  27. ^ "Hibs striker to face Saints despite grandfather's death". Edinburgh Evening News. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  28. ^ Wales, Peter (7 November 2019). "Albania set to call up Hibs star Florian Kamberi". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  29. ^ uefa.com. "Florian Kamberi – UEFA.com". Uefa.com.
  30. ^ "England Under-21s hold out in Switzerland despite Jordon Ibe red card". The Guardian. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Konferencë për shtyp e trajnerit Reja për ndeshjet ndaj Andorrës dhe Francës". fshf.org (in Albanian). 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  32. ^ Atkinson, Mark (15 November 2019). "Hibs' Florian Kamberi withdraws from Albania squad due to paperwork issues and ankle niggle". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  33. ^ "Florian Kamberi's patience pays off as Aberdeen striker earns Sergio Porrini backing for Albania debut". Daily Record. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  34. ^ Florian Kamberi at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  35. ^ "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  37. ^ "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  38. ^ "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  40. ^ a b "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  41. ^ "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  42. ^ "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2023.