Elvis Rexhbeçaj
Kosovar footballer
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Elvis Rexhbeçaj (born 1 November 1997) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for German 2. Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Kosovo national team.
(now Kosovo)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Elvis Rexhbeçaj[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 November 1997[2] | ||
| Place of birth |
Gjonaj, Prizren, FR Yugoslavia[3] (now Kosovo) | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | VfL Wolfsburg | ||
| Number | 37 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2010 | Brandenburger SC Süd | ||
| 2010–2016 | VfL Wolfsburg | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2019 | VfL Wolfsburg II | 47 | (12) |
| 2017–2022 | VfL Wolfsburg | 28 | (2) |
| 2020–2021 | → 1. FC Köln (loan) | 43 | (5) |
| 2021–2022 | → VfL Bochum (loan) | 32 | (0) |
| 2022–2026 | Augsburg | 109 | (5) |
| 2026– | VfL Wolfsburg | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Kosovo | 18 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 20:00, 7 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
VfL Wolfsburg
On 20 August 2017, Rexhbeçaj signed a professional contract with Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.[4][1] On 28 January 2018, he made his debut in a 1–0 away win against Hannover 96 after coming on as a substitute at 84th minute in place of Daniel Didavi.[5][6]
Loan at 1. FC Köln
In January 2020, it was announced that Rexhbeçaj would be loaned to 1. FC Köln until June 2021. The move included an option to remain permanently at the club.[7]
Loan at VfL Bochum
On 2 August 2021 Rexhbeçaj was loaned to VfL Bochum for the 2021–22 season.[8]
FC Augsburg
On 27 July 2022, Rexhbeçaj signed a four-year contract with FC Augsburg.[9]
Return to VfL Wolfsburg
On 22 April 2026, Rexhbeçaj agreed to a four-year deal with VfL Wolfsburg, beginning in the 2026–27 season.[10]
International career
Rexhbeçaj was born in the village of Gjonaj near Prizren and raised in Spremberg and Brandenburg an der Havel by Albanian parents who fled Kosovo during the Kosovo War.[11] In February 2021, he confirmed his desire to represent Germany and stated that he was contacted by Stefan Kuntz as a candidate for the Olympic team for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[12] A month later, there were reports that Rexhbeçaj would switch his allegiance to Albania.[13]
On 13 July 2024, the Football Federation of Kosovo announced that Rexhbeçaj had decided to play for the Kosovo national team, and the delay in his decision was due to the restrictions of the old German nationality law, which did not allow dual citizenship.[14]
On 30 August 2024, he received a call-up from Kosovo for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League matches against Romania and Cyprus.[15] His debut with Kosovo came seven days later in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League match against Romania after being named in the starting line-up.[16]
On 20 March 2025, during the first leg of the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs in Pristina, he scored his first international goal as Kosovo defeated Iceland 2-1.[17]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 18 April 2026[18]
| Club | Season | League | DFB Pokal | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| VfL Wolfsburg II | 2016–17 | Regionalliga Nord | 17 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18 | Regionalliga Nord | 24 | 9 | — | — | 24 | 9 | |||
| 2018–19 | Regionalliga Nord | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | |||
| 2019–20 | Regionalliga Nord | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | |||
| Total | 47 | 12 | — | — | 47 | 12 | ||||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Bundesliga | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 28 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| 1. FC Köln (loan) | 2019–20 | Bundesliga | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| 2020–21 | Bundesliga | 30 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 33 | 7 | ||
| Total | 43 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 46 | 7 | |||
| VfL Bochum (loan) | 2021–22 | Bundesliga | 32 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | |
| FC Augsburg | 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 18 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Bundesliga | 27 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 31 | 2 | ||
| 2025–26 | Bundesliga | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| Total | 101 | 5 | 8 | 1 | — | 109 | 6 | |||
| Career total | 251 | 24 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 270 | 27 | ||
- Appearance in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of match played 7 June 2026
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kosovo | 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rexhbeçaj goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 March 2025 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo |  Iceland |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs |
| 2 | 8 September 2025 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo |  Sweden |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
