The Swiss striker has already revealed his next club after rumors of a transfer from Brighton to the Championship surfaced.
Since it has been so entertaining to witness Brighton & Hove Albion’s development in recent years, it is now largely accepted that they are one of the best-run football clubs in England and possibly the entire globe.
With a global scouting network in place at the club, they have been able to bring in talent from all over Europe and have also had great success in South America, with players like Moises Caicedo and Julio Enciso arriving at the Amex Stadium. This is in large part due to their coaching staff as well as their recruitment efforts.
Of course, not every player will succeed with the Seagulls, and some will need to find success elsewhere in order to advance in their careers.
Andi Zeqiri, a forward, hasn’t had much of a chance to play for Roberto De Zerbi’s team since his arrival in 2020.
The Swiss striker, who scored 22 goals in all competitions the previous season and had progressed through the Swiss youth ranks, moved to the club four years ago in a deal with Stade-Lausanne.
Zeqiri made 12 appearances in his first season with Albion, with the majority of those coming off the bench. However, after only one game for the team in 2021–2022, he was loaned out to German club Augsburg in January 2022.
Zeqiri only scored twice in 23 appearances for the Bundesliga team before a new loan club was found for him for the entire 2022–23 season, and he returned home to join Basel.
The 24-year-old had a little bit better luck in the Swiss Super League, where he scored 11 goals and totaled 18 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions, placing him on several teams’ radars for the summer transfer window.
According to Charlie Gordon of the Daily Express, Zeqiri has been linked with a plethora of Championship clubs, with Birmingham City, Leicester, and Southampton all being mentioned as potential destinations for the eight-cap international.
The striker didn’t make a move before the transfer deadline on September 1 though, and a few days later his new club was announced.
Where does Andi Zeqiri have a job lined up?
Genk jumped in to sign Zeqiri while the Belgian transfer window was still open.
After coming in second place in the Belgian Pro League last year, Genk was looking to get something back for the powerful Nigerian forward Paul Onuachu, whom they had earlier this year sold to Southampton.
But because a deal hasn’t materialized, their focus has shifted to Zeqiri.
Zeqiri signed a three-year contract with the Europa Conference League team on Tuesday, and Brighton officially announced the sale of the player to Genk.
Have Championship clubs made a mistake by passing up on Andi Zeqiri?
Zeqiri, who is a muscular presence at over six feet tall, would have no doubt blended in well in the Championship.
The goal-scoring confidence he displayed for Stade-Lausanne a few years ago would have no doubt returned given his size, quickness, and successful time in front of goal for Basel.
It wasn’t surprising that Championship teams were keen, but despite not securing Zeqiri, Leicester, Southampton, and Birmingham all recruited new forwards in Tom Cannon, Ross Stewart, and Jay Stansfield, respectively. As a result, they should be fine.
