Florent Hoti
Association football player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Florent Hoti (born 11 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Halifax Town. He has previously played for Rochdale, Dundee United and Arbroath, and had a loan spell at Forfar Athletic. Born in England, he is a youth international for Kosovo.
|
Hoti playing for Rochdale U18 in October 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Florent Hoti[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 December 2000[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Manchester, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | FC Halifax Town | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2018 | Rochdale | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Rochdale | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Dundee United | 9 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Forfar Athletic (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Arbroath | 5 | (0) |
| 2023 | Tranmere Rovers | 5 | (0) |
| 2023– | FC Halifax Town | 62 | (10) |
| International career | |||
| 2021–2022 | Kosovo U21 | 7 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:29, 14 October 2025 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Early career
Having been part of Rochdale's academy since the age of 10, Hoti signed for the club on a two-year scholarship in 2017.[4] He made his debut for Rochdale on 4 September 2018, coming on as a 79th minute substitute in a 2–1 home victory against Bury in the EFL Trophy.[5] On 7 November 2018, he started in Rochdale's 2–2 draw at home to Leicester City Under-23s in the EFL Trophy.[6] Hoti was offered his first professional contract with the club at the end of the 2018–19 season,[7] though Hoti never signed this contract.[8][9]
Playing in Scotland
Hoti had a trial at Scottish Premiership club Dundee United during the 2019–20 season,[10][11] and again in August 2020,[12] and signed a two-year contract with the club for an undisclosed fee the following month.[13][14] He joined Scottish League One club Forfar Athletic on loan in October,[15] then returned to Dundee United in January 2021 following the suspension of the lower divisions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] He made his debut for Dundee United on 10 April 2021 in a 1–0 Scottish Premiership win away to Hamilton Academical, with Dundee United manager Micky Mellon stating that "he has come on and showed what a lad of great promise he is."[17] He made three further appearances in the 2020–21 season.[18] He was released at the end of the 2021–22 season,[19] having played just 9 times that season after failing to displace the club's regular midfielders such as Jeando Fuchs, Calum Butcher and Ian Harkes.[20][21]
After a trial spell with Scottish League One club Peterhead, during which he played twice,[22] Hoti signed for Scottish Championship side Arbroath on a short-term deal on 11 November 2022.[23] On 25 January 2023, Arbroath confirmed that Florent had left the club,[24] with Hoti having made 7 appearances for them.[25]
Return to England
In March 2023, Hoti joined EFL League Two side Tranmere Rovers on a short-term deal after a successful trial.[26] He was released at the end of the season,[27] having made 5 appearances for the club.[25]
On 18 July 2023, Hoti joined National League club FC Halifax Town on a two-year deal after a successful trial.[9][28] Hoti had suffered a hamstring injury during his trial which left him injured for the start of the season,[9] and he made his debut for the club on 26 September 2023 as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge.[29] He made his full debut for the club in the following match, and scored his first career goal, as Halifax were defeated 3–2 by Eastleigh on 30 September.[30][31] He suffered a shoulder injury in a 2–2 draw against AFC Fylde on 21 November,[32] which he returned from for Halifax's opening match of 2024, a 0–0 draw with Altrincham.[30] He played 25 times, scoring 5 goals during the 2023–24 National League,[30] as Halifax finished 7th and qualified for the National League play-offs.[33] Hoti scored as a substitute in Halifax's play-off quarter-final tie against Solihull Moors but the club were knocked out of the play-offs after losing 4–2.[34]
At the end of the 2024–25 season, Halifax triggered an option in Hoti's contract to extend it by a further year.[35] Hoti sustained a knee injury in Halifax's final pre-season match ahead of the 2025–26 season, which left him injured for "several months" and led to him having surgery.[36][37]
International career
Hoti was selected to participate in an Albania national under-21 team's training camp and practice matches in March 2021, but was unable to join the squad due to COVID-related travel restrictions.[38] Two months later, he received a call-up from Kosovo national under-21 team for a 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Andorra U21,[39] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.[40] Hoti made 7 appearances in total for Kosovo U21.[41]
Style of play
Hoti is a midfielder and has described himself as a "technical midfielder with flair".[8] Upon signing for Halifax, Hoti claimed "I'm best when I'm on the ball but I have the other side to my game as well where I'm not afraid to put a tackle in and do the dirty work".[9]
Personal life
Hoti was born in Manchester, England, to Kosovo-Albanian parents from the Hoti tribe. This makes him eligible to represent all three nations of England, Albania and Kosovo internationally.[8] Hoti also grew up in Manchester and supported Manchester United.[9]
Career statistics
- As of end of 2024-25 season
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rochdale | 2018–19[42] | EFL League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019–20[43] | EFL League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Dundee United | 2020–21[18] | Scottish Premiership | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021–22[20] | Scottish Premiership | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Forfar Athletic (loan) | 2020–21[18] | Scottish League One | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Arbroath | 2022–23[25] | Scottish Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 2022–23[25] | EFL League Two | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FC Halifax Town | 2023–24[44] | National League | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 1 | 26 | 6 | |
| 2024–25[44] | National League | 37 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[e] | 0 | 41 | 5 | ||
| 2025–26[44] | National League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 62 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 67 | 11 | ||
| Career total | 87 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 103 | 11 | ||
- Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
- Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- Appearance(s) in National League play-offs
- One appearance in National League play-offs, one appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in National League Cup
