Berat Djimsiti and Nedim Bajrami go face each other as rivals when newly promoted Diriyah Club host Al Taawoun for matchweek 9 of the 2026-27 Roshn Saudi League at Al Awwal Park. The two men no be strangers: dem be Albania international teammates, and dem don follow near-identical football paths from Zurich to Italy and now Saudi Arabia.
Both players born for Zurich to families wey get Albania root, and both come through Grasshoppers youth academy. Dem first represent Switzerland at youth level before dem commit their senior international future to Albania. Djimsiti make the switch in 2015, Bajrami follow in 2021.
Djimsiti, 33, join Diriyah Club in summer after ten years with Atalanta, wey dey Serie A for Italy. During im time with Bergamo club, e also go on loan at Avellino and Benevento. Bajrami, 27, land for Al Taawoun after spells for Italy and Scotland; e dey on loan from Rangers, and before that e play for Empoli and Sassuolo.
Dem be teammates as recently as June, when Albania host Luxembourg for international friendly for Arena Kombetare in Tirana. By that time, Bajrami don complete im move to Al Taawoun, while Djimsiti transfer to Diriyah Club confirm shortly after.
Bajrami grow up for Regensdorf, just outside Zurich, and e start football with friends at age six. E complete two-year vocational qualification in maintenance and operations alongside football. E remember how im grandfather immigrate: “He came to Switzerland alone by train at a very young age; he worked here without speaking German, and my mother later joined him.”
Djimsiti build strong bond with Bergamo during im Atalanta years and now e dey lead Diriyah Club as di club settle for top flight. Bajrami dey bring invention for Al Taawoun, with Vuk Rasovic’s debut end in 3-0 defeat at Al Shabab. The match also continue Albania link with football for Saudi Arabia wey start in 2010 with Migjen Memelli at Al Faisaly; Djimsiti, Bajrami and Al Ittihad’s Mario Mitaj, on loan at Genoa, now dey carry am.
