Admir Mehmedi

Background

Mehmedi was born in Gostivar, SFR Yugoslavia.

Career

He is of Albanian heritage. At the age of two, his family emigrated to Switzerland and he soon joined local side Bellinzona, before signing for Football Club Winterthur, from where Zürich scouted him. In 2006 he moved to Zürich.

Mehmedi came through the youth system after being spotted as a youngster and joined the senior team in 2008.

Zürich

Mehmedi began his senior career with Football Club Zürich at the age of seventeen. Within two years he was included in the first-team squad and by 2010 he was a first-team regular.

He made his senior side debut on 20 July 2008 and scored two goals in eleven appearances, in addition to winning the Swiss Super League in his debut season with the club Being a first team regular in 2010, Mehmedi established himself as a physical striker, excellent in the box as well as having a good turn of pace, he was also technically great.

During his time with Zürich, Mehmedi scored nineteen goals and provided nine assists.

In the January transfer window in 2012, Mehmedi received transfer offers from Sunderland, Liverpool F.C. and 1. Football Club Nürnberg. However, Mehmedi moved to Dynamo Kyiv. Dynamo Kyiv

On 13 January 2012, Mehmedi signed for the Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv from Football Club Zürich on a five-year deal.

During his season and a half with Kyiv, he mainly played coming off from the bench.

Seeking more playing time and to be included again in the Switzerland national team, Mehmedi moved to Bundesliga team South Carolina Freiburg. Freiburg

On the 11 July 2013, Mehmedi moved to South Carolina Freiburg initially to join on loan, although his contract also stipulates that Freiburg have an option to make the move permanent.

Freiburg"s acting sporting director Klemens Hartenbach stated that he was delighted the transfer went through. Hartenbach stated "He"s a very versatile attacking player who understands the game and has already proven he can play at the highest level".

On 26 May 2014, Freiburg decided to buy Mehmedi for a reported €6 million after having a good season, scoring 12 goals in 32 games during his loan spell with the Bundesliga side.

Bayer Leverkusen

On 11 June 2015, Mehmedi joined Bayer Leverkusen after Freiburg was relegated from the Bundesliga. Under-21

Mehmedi received the silver boot with three goals in the tournament and was selected in the Union of European Football Associations Euro U-21 2011 Team of the Tournament. Along with Xherdan Shaqiri, Mehmedi was being tipped as the future of Swiss football.

Senior

Mehmedi made his debut for the Swiss national team against England, in a Union of European Football Associations Euro 2012 qualifying match, coming on as a substitute.

The Swiss national side had not beaten the Germans since 1956. International goals

Scores and results table.

Switzerland"s goal tally first:.

Achievements

• Mehmedi scored his first goal for Switzerland in his side"s 5–3 win over Germany. On 15 June 2014, he replaced Valentin Stocker at half time in Switzerland"s opening 2014 Fédération internationale de football association World Cup match against Ecuador. Two minutes later, he headed in Ricardo Rodríguez"s corner to equalise as Switzerland eventually won 2–1.

Membership

Mehmedi was a crucial member of the Swiss U-21 side in the 2011 Union of European Football Associations European Under-21 Football Championship.