Nedim Bajrami, a wee chap born on a bitter February's morn in 1999, came into the football world right out of Macedonia. The lad stands at an all right 5ft 10in (1.79m), weighing in at 10st 9lb (68kg)—a sort of nimble, sprightly type. Now spending his days garbed in the number 14 Rangers jersey, Bajrami bustles around park, mostly playing as a central attacking midfielder—although he's also pulled on a similar kit for the Albania national team. According to the urban bible of football facts, Transfermarkt, the boy's worth around €4.00m (that's roughly £3.5 million in normal money).
Our football journeyman started his career at Grasshoppers in the Super League in Switzerland, joining as a trainee back in the golden olden days of 2009. His career track record across 2016 to 2019, filled with first team appearances and the occasional goal, read like a Swiss train schedule—always on time, not overly exciting, but reliable as you like.
Bajrami then flitted from the green fields of Grasshoppers over to Empoli in the Serie A, spending a remarkable sum of approximately £430k, which the board surely recouped from selling a few extra pretzels and beers over the season. Over in Italy, his performances flickered brighter—seasons sprinkled with goals and sturdy appearances.
However, it seems Empoli was merely a pit-stop (or perhaps a long-ish coffee break), as Bajrami was soon shipped off on loan to Sassuolo in the Serie B in Italy in January 2023. After a few rocky months, the lad got himself into a groove and stayed on permanently for a more encouraging £5.2 million fee.
Apparently, Sassuolo's Serie B bore Bajrami, and he decided to embark on a new adventure up north. In 2024, the Scottish air beckoned, and he was transferred over to Rangers, this time for the not insubstantial price tag of around £3.5 million. So far, Bajrami in the Scottish Premiership has seen a respectable number of starts, with a couple of goals thrown in for good measure.
Our well-travelled friend has had quite the busy itinerary over the years. On top of his club games, he’s appeared in cups and qualifiers alike, often managing to find the back of the net with what one can only hope was aplomb. Despite the sarcasm, one can’t argue with the fact that Bajrami has made his mark in the footballing world. And who knows, maybe Scotland will be his final destination. Or perhaps not. Only time will tell.
