Bayer 04 sign Kosovo international Lumbardha Misini

“Lumbardha successfully made the leap from Kosovo to the bigger European leagues at an early stage and gained international experience just as quickly. At every club she has played for, she has established herself and become a first-team regular,” said Achim Feifel, sporting director of the Bayer 04 Women’s team: “She is a mentally strong player who is good at tackling, plays with high intensity and is willing to run, and she anticipates a great deal on the pitch. She is set to be a driving force in midfield, setting the tone and orchestrating the transition between defence and attack. The fact an athlete of her calibre has chosen Bayer 04 is a big plus for us.”

After starting her football career in Kosovo and Albania, Misini signed for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig in 2024. A year later, she joined Servette and made 15 appearances for the Geneva-based side during their title-winning season. The midfielder has also made 28 international appearances for her home country, Kosovo, to date.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing for such a big club in one of the strongest leagues in the world,” said Misini: “I want to bring a lot of energy and passion to the team here. Granit Xhaka is my idol. He’s inspired me, which is why I told my family a long time ago that I’d like to play for Bayer 04 one day too. With this team, we can achieve great things.”