Berat Djimsiti


Berat Djimsiti-Gjimshiti is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Atalanta, which he captains. Born in Switzerland, he represented that nation at youth international levels but in 2015 switched to play for Albania national team, which he captains.
He began his senior career with Zürich, winning the Swiss Cup title in 2013–14 season, before joining Atalanta in 2016, where he later won the UEFA Europa League in the 2023–24 season.
Djimsiti represented Switzerland at various youth international levels before switching his allegiance to Albania, making his senior debut in 2015 during the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Although Albania qualified for the tournament for the first time in history, Djimsiti was not included in the final squad. He later became captain of the national team and led Albania during the UEFA Euro 2024 campaign.

Club career

Early career and Zürich

Djimsiti began his youth career at FC Zürich-Affoltern, where he played until 2007, before joining the Zürich academy at the age of 14.
He was initially integrated into the Zürich U21 team in the Swiss Promotion League, making his debut at the age of 17 and going on to play 46 matches over three seasons, scoring six goals in the process.
He received his first call-up to the senior squad during the 2011–12 Swiss Super League season and was named on the bench in a 2–1 win over Young Boys on 19 April 2011. Later that year, he was included in the matchday squad for the [2011–12 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and 2021–22 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|play-off round|UEFA Champions League play-off round] fixture against Bayern Munich on 17 August 2011.
Djimsiti made his professional debut on 3 March 2012 in a 1–0 loss to Sion, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Heinz Barmettler. He scored his first goal for Zürich on 20 May 2012 in a 1–0 away win over Grasshopper, starting the match and scoring in the 75th minute. These two matches were his only appearances of the season, which Zürich finished in sixth place in the league, missing out on qualification for European competitions.
He established himself as a regular starter during the 2012–13 Swiss Super League season, featuring in the vast majority of league matches and regularly completing the full 90 minutes out of 36 league fixtures. Zürich finished in fourth place in the league standings, which earned them a place in the Europa League third qualifying round.
In the 2012–13 Swiss Cup, Djimsiti made full 120 minutes appearances in both the quarter-final and semi-final matches and Zürich were eliminated in the semi-final by city rivals Grasshopper.
Djimsiti started the 2013–14 Swiss Super League with a goal on 3 April 2025, scoring a late winner with a header in the 93rd minute to secure a 3–2 victory for Zürich against Thun. In the Europa League third qualifying round in early August 2013, Djimsiti played the full 90 minutes in both legs against Slovan Liberec, but Zürich were eliminated 4–2 on aggregate.

Atalanta

On 18 January 2016, Djimsiti signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Serie A side Atalanta, taking the number 55 for the second part of 2015–16 season. He debuted on 3 May 2016 against Napoli in a 2–1 loss.

Loan to Avellino

On 31 August 2016, Djimsiti was loaned out to Serie B side Avellino to gain more playing time.

Loan to Benevento

On 8 July 2017, Djimsiti moved on loan to new promoted Serie A side Benevento until the end of the season, with buying option.

Return to Atalanta

Djimsiti returned to Atalanta ahead of 2018–19 season, playing his first match on 20 August in the 4–0 win against Frosinone. He scored his first goal for Atalanta later on 11 November, heading home his side's third goal in a 4–1 home win over Inter Milan, which ended the visitors' six-match winning streak. Since returning from his two loan spells, Djimsiti has established himself as a starting defender under Gian Piero Gasperini.
On 17 February 2022, Djimsiti scored a brace in the first leg of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off against Olympiacos, which Atalanta won 2–1.
On 5 November 2025, Djimsiti made his 300th appearance for Atalanta in the 1–0 win over Marseille in the League phase of the UEFA Champions League.

International career

Switzerland

Djimsiti became a youth national player of Switzerland as he was called up for the first time at Switzerland national under-18 team making his debut on 5 April 2011 in a friendly match and then played in other two matches.
Djimsiti was then called up from the Switzerland national under-19 team for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification and made his debut against Montenegro U19 on 5 June 2011, playing the full 90- minutes match in a 2–2 win. Djimsiti also participated in the next tournament for U-19, the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship playing in all six matches.
Following his good performances at U-19 side, he became part of the Switzerland national under-21 team. He participated in two consecutive UEFA European Under-21 Championship, in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship where he was called up in four occasions, remaining in all as an unused substitute and the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship playing in two out six matches.

Albania

In September 2014, Swiss media reported Djimsiti would soon receive a call-up from Albania. The news was confirmed by Djimsiti himself, who explained that he had been contacted by the Albanian coach, Gianni De Biasi. In September 2014 he refused also Kosovo, letting them know that he intended to play for Albania. On 20 September 2014, procedures to give him the Albanian citizenship were started. He received the Albanian citizenship on 15 July 2015 by the president of Albania, Bujar Nishani, along with two other Albanian footballers, the twin brothers part of the fellow Swiss club Basel, Albian Ajeti and Adonis Ajeti. In July 2015 Djimsiti confirmed definitively that he had decided to play for Albania. On 27 August 2015 Djimsiti among two other Albanian descents players which switched from Swiss youth international footballers to Albanian international footballers, Arlind Ajeti and Naser Aliji, received the go ahead from FIFA which allowed them to play for Albania also in the competitive matches such as the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.

Debut and UEFA Euro 2016 campaign

Since he became eligible to represent Albania in international competitive level, Djimsiti received his first call-up at Albania by coach Gianni De Biasi for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Denmark and Portugal on 4 and 7 September 2015 respectively. He made it his first international debut with Albania on 4 September 2015 against Denmark playing as a right back due to the absence of the injured Elseid Hysaj and completed the full 90 minutes helping Albania take one point with a goalless draw. He was called up for the next UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group I matches against Serbia and Armenia on 8 and 11 October 2015 respectively. He played as a centre back among Captain Lorik Cana in both matches and on 11 October against Armenia he scored his first goal in the 23rd minute following a cross from Ledian Memushaj by a free kick from the left side.
On 21 May 2016, Djimsiti was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016, but was left out of final 23-man UEFA Euro 2016 squad on 31 May.

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

He was returned to Albania national team by same coach Gianni De Biasi receiving a call up for the friendly match against Morocco on 31 August 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification opening match against Macedonia on 5 September 2016.

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Djimsiti captained Albania as they qualified for the play-off round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In December 2025, he was awarded the "National Team Player of the Year" during the "Ballon D'or Albania" ceremony, after a selection made by the players of the Albanian national team. The award was presented by the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama.

Personal life

Djimsiti was born in Zurich, Switzerland to an ethnic Albanian family from the village of Tërnoc i Madh near Bujanoc, and is part of the Albanian minority in Serbia. Since 2012, he has been in a relationship with Serbian model Alisa Menković; the couple married in 2020 and have three children.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
111 October 2015Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia42–03–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

Honours

FC Zürich
Atalanta
Individual
  • UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2023–24