Arton Zekaj was once among the names that promised far more than his career record shows today. From wearing the captain’s armband for Serbia’s youth teams, to choosing to play for Kosovo and then signing for Lille in France, the midfielder’s journey has reached a bleak point: he is currently without a club.
From Subotica to Partizan Belgrade
Born on April 16, 2000, in Subotica, Zekaj was first developed at the Spartak Subotica academy before moving to Partizan Belgrade. It was there that he began attracting attention as one of the most highly rated players of his generation.
At a young age, he also took on leadership roles in Serbia’s youth national teams, wearing the captain’s armband for the U15, U16 and U17 sides. At that stage, his career was seen as a project with major potential.
Lille, the big step that did not become a career turning point
In the summer of 2018, at just 18 years old, Zekaj signed a three-year contract with Lille, a move that on paper looked like the major springboard toward elite football.
But the expectations did not translate into real playing opportunities. With Lille’s first team he made only one appearance, while for Lille II he played 16 matches before leaving in 2021.
The choice of Kosovo
During the same period, the midfielder also decided to switch his international allegiance. Although he had developed through Serbia’s youth teams, he chose to play for Kosovo based on his family origins.
In 2019 he joined Kosovo U21 and made his debut on September 9 of that year. In total, he made five appearances for the side, and in one match against Albania he also wore the captain’s armband.
The gradual decline and free-agent status
After leaving France, Zekaj’s career dropped to more modest levels. In the 2022-2023 season he played for Tisa Adorjan in Serbia, while in the 2024-2025 season he tried another experience in Luxembourg with Swift Hesperange.
At the Luxembourg club he had a more visible role, with 15 matches and one goal. Even so, that was not enough to give continuity to a profile once considered promising. Today, Arton Zekaj is listed without a club.
His story remains one of those cases where great expectations fail to take shape in a stable career.
From captain of Serbia’s youth teams, to the Kosovo shirt and the door opened by Lille, Zekaj ended up far from what had been predicted at the start.