After an eight-year career abroad, Arbër Zeneli has returned to the Swedish football elite. Zeneli was presented by the Elfsborg team on Thursday evening.
"Elfsborg is pleased to announce that together with Arbëri, he has signed a contract until 2027. Arbëri will join the team immediately and will wear the jersey number nine", wrote Elfsborg on Thursday evening.
"I feel very good. It's a very good thing that everything finally ended", said Zeneli for the club's official website.
The 29-year-old Zeneli started his career at Halsinggarden AIK, while he joined Elfsborg as a 12-year-old.
He passed all age groups in this team, while in the seniors he was included in 2014. He won the Swedish Cup after the 1:0 victory in the final against Helsingborgs IF.
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Zeneli returns to training
He debuted in Allsvenskan in 2014 on a trip to Avtidabergs FF. During the first edition, Zeneli had 16 appearances.
Immediately in the next edition, Zeneli was one of the best in the team.
Played in 30 matches in the Allsvenskan, 27 of which he was the starter. Scored 10 goals and had five assists.
Zeneli was part of the Sweden U21 team that won the European Championship in 2015.
After the 2015 season and 62 games with Elfsborg, the then 20-year-old Zeneli moved to Dutch side Heerenveen in January 2016.
"When I think back, of course I'm happy. I have many good and positive memories during my time at Elfsborg. I thank everyone for the support I received and I hope that we will have the same successes now", Zeneli emphasized.
Zeneli with Heerenveen played 100 games and had 21 goals and 27 assists over the past three years with the Dutch side, before moving to Reims in January 2019.
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Zeneli expects to play more
With Reims, Zeneli had nine goals and 14 assists in 82 games.
In the summer of last year, he was transferred to Adana Demirspori in Turkey, where he made 13 appearances.
"Dutch football is very attacking and you have a lot of one-on-one situations. In France there are many physically strong and very fast players. There were big names in the French league, while you also had to face players like Neymar or Mbappe. It was a very important period for me where I gained a lot of experience", continued Zeneli.
Zeneli has represented Kosovo since October 6, 2016.
In 33 appearances with the shirt of "Dardans", he has scored nine goals and four assists.
At Elfsborg, Zeneli will play with his younger brother, Besfort. Besfort is 21 years old.
"The return to Elfsborg is also related to the transfer of Besfort to the series team. I hope it's a fun time. I will try to help him and the team in different ways. We talked to him and we are here together to support each other. It will be a very good thing that I will be close to him and play with him together", said Zeneli.
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Zeneli expects to play more at Elfsborg
Zeneli was transferred to Elfsborg as a free footballer, while coach Jimmy Thelin was also very happy with his return.
"It is a positive thing that Arbëri is back. His qualities as a player help us score goals. He is a very good and professional person. It will help the team to improve on and off the field", stated coach Thelin.
