Egli Kaja | |
Fullname: | Egli Kaja[1] |
Birth Date: | 26 July 1997 |
Birth Place: | Prelez i Jerlive, Ferizaj, FR Yugoslavia (modern Kosovo) |
Height: | 1.77 m |
Position: | Winger |
Youthyears1: | 2003–2006 |
Youthclubs1: | MHD |
Youthyears2: | 2006–2008 |
Youthclubs2: | Kingstonian |
Youthyears3: | 2008–2015 |
Youthclubs3: | AFC Wimbledon |
Years1: | 2015–2019 |
Clubs1: | AFC Wimbledon |
Caps1: | 22 |
Goals1: | 0 |
Years2: | 2016 |
Clubs2: | → Lewes (loan) |
Caps2: | 7 |
Goals2: | 1 |
Years3: | 2018 |
Clubs3: | → Livingston (loan) |
Caps3: | 6 |
Goals3: | 0 |
Years4: | 2019–2020 |
Clubs4: | Northampton Town |
Caps4: | 4 |
Goals4: | 0 |
Years5: | 2021–2022 |
Clubs5: | AFC Wimbledon |
Caps5: | 5 |
Goals5: | 0 |
Years6: | 2022 |
Clubs6: | Hampton & Richmond Borough |
Caps6: | 2 |
Goals6: | 0 |
Years7: | 2022–2023 |
Clubs7: | Altrincham |
Caps7: | 15 |
Goals7: | 1 |
Club-Update: | 14:31, 10 May 2023 (UTC) |
Nationalteam-Update: | 13 May 2017 |
Nationalyears1: | 2017– |
Nationalteam1: | Albania |
Nationalcaps1: | 0 |
Nationalgoals1: | 0 --> |
Egli Kaja (born 26 July 1997) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a winger. Kaja also represents Albania and received his first international call-up in May 2017.
Kaja's career began in 2003 with youth side MHD, where he was offered the opportunity to join Middlesbrough.[2] Having finished as top scorer for three consecutive seasons, Kaja joined Kingstonian in 2006 upon moving to London.[3] Once again finishing as top scorer in the youth set-up, he turned down a trial with Chelsea in order to join AFC Wimbledon. Enjoying a brief stint with AC Milan on trial, he later featured for the Dons on a scholarship, and turned down a second chance to compete for a contract in Milan the following season.
Kaja signed a professional contract with AFC Wimbledon in April 2015, and made his first team debut on Saturday 26 September.[4] Coming off the bench in a 2–0 defeat to Luton Town,[5] he also made a substitute appearance three days later in a 1–1 draw with Northampton Town.[6] He scored his first goal for Wimbledon in an EFL Trophy tie against Barnet on 29 August 2017.[7]
On 16 December 2016 Kaja was sent on loan to Lewes in the 2016–17 Isthmian League for one month.[8] He made his debut on 31 December 2016 against Three Bridges in a 4–2 win.[9] He scored his first and only goal for Lewes on 10 January 2017 against Herne Bay in a 2–4 away win.[10]
In July 2018, Kaja joined newly promoted Scottish Premiership side Livingston on a season-long loan but was recalled by new Wimbledon manager Wally Downes in December.[11]
On 2 September 2019, Kaja joined Northampton on a free transfer until January 2020.
On 26 November 2021, Kaja returned to AFC Wimbledon on a short-term deal.[12]
On 5 August 2022, following his release from AFC Wimbledon, Kaja joined Hampton & Richmond Borough after impressing during pre-season.[13]
Just a few days after joining Hampton & Richmond Borough, Kaja left to join Altrincham.[14] He was released at the end of the 2022–23 season.[15]
Kaja received his first international call up at the Albania national under-21 football team by coach Alban Bushi for a gathering between 14 and 17 May 2017 with most of the players selected from Albanian championships.[16]
Kaja is able to "play on either wing, or be deployed as a second striker". Upon signing for Livingston on loan, player-manager Kenny Miller described him as "quick, powerful and direct" adding that he "will bring a different dimension to our offensive options".
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
AFC Wimbledon | 2015–16 | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
2016–17 | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
2017–18 | League One | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[17] | 2 | 24 | 2 | ||
Total | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 2 | |||
Lewes (loan) | 2016–17 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 7 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |||
Livingston (loan) | 2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
Northampton Town | 2019–20 | League Two | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
AFC Wimbledon | 2021–22 | League One | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Hampton & Richmond Borough | 2022–23[18] | National League South | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
Altrincham | 2022–23 | National League | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | ||
Career total | 61 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 73 | 4 |