Rangers FC announced today on their official website they have completed the signing of 25-year-old Swiss-Albanian winger Nedim Bajrami from Italian side Sassuolo on permanent transfer.
Born on 28th February 1999 in Zürich, Switzerland to ethnic Albanian parents, Bajrami began his football career in 2009 at Grasshoppers. He made 70 total appearances for their youth teams at U18 and U21 levels, scoring 27 goals and creating four assists.
In 2017, he broke into the senior team, and made 75 appearances over the next three seasons across all competitions, with six goals and six assists.
On signing for the Light Blues, Bajrami spoke exclusively to the club’s website:
“I am delighted to be joining a club the size of Rangers.
“They are a club which is known throughout the world, who have won a lot of trophies and competed in a European final in recent years.
“I have had some good conversations with the manager and I believe Rangers is the right move for me at this point in my career.
“I look forward to meeting all of my new team-mates and fans in the near future.”
In August 2019, Bajrami joined Empoli, in the Italian Serie B, on loan with an option-to-buy which the club exercised in September, 2020. In total, Bajrami made 127 appearances for Empoli, scoring 22 goals and creating 22 assists.
Manager Philippe Clement welcomed Bajrami to the club, saying:
“I am pleased to welcome Nedim to the club.
“He is someone we have kept a close eye on for a period of time and we are glad to add him to our squad.
“Many of our supporters will have watched in the European Championships, as well as playing in Serie A last season.
“Nedim is a good age, but someone who also has experience of playing in big games and we are glad he has decided Rangers are the right club for him at this point in his career.”
Bajrami represented Switzerland at various age groups, from U15 to U21, and made 51 total appearances. However, he switched allegiances in March 2021, and opted to play for Albania, his country of origin. He has since appeared in 26 matches for his nation, scoring five goals and creating four assists.
Director of Recruitment Nils Koppen commented:
“We are delighted to welcome Nedim to Rangers and Scottish football.
“He has a lot of experience having played in the Swiss league and Serie A in recent years as well as representing his country at the Euros.
“He will further enhance the options we have available to the manager and we feel he can be a success at the football club.”
Bajrami moved to Sassuolo on loan with obligation-to-buy in January, 2023. He made 52 appearances in all competitions for the club, with four goals and four assists. He becomes Philippe Clement’s 11th addition to the squad this summer, following Mohamed Diomande, Jefté, Óscar Cortés, Clinton Nsiala, Connor Barron, Liam Kelly, Hamza Igamane, Václav Černy, Robin Pröpper, and fellow deadline day signing Neraysho Kasanwirjo.