Sabah Kerjota: From His Long Journey Through Italy to the Red-and-Black Dream

Sabah Kerjota is one of the most interesting new names in head coach Rolando Maran’s first squad for the four UEFA Nations League matches. The 25-year-old Heart of Midlothian winger has received his first call-up to the Albanian national team, a reward for a long journey that has taken him from Vllaznia’s academy through the lower divisions of Italian football and eventually to the Scottish Premiership.

Kerjota was born on August 14, 2001, in Shkodër. He plays primarily as a right winger, although he can operate on either side of the attack. His speed, dribbling, ability to create chances and left-footed shooting are among the main characteristics of his game.

From Vllaznia’s Academy to Italy

Kerjota took his first steps in football at the Vllaznia academy, the club from his hometown. In 2018, he moved to Italy and signed for Narnese, beginning a long journey through the country’s lower divisions.

A year later, he joined Clitunno, where he scored 15 goals in 22 league appearances. His impressive performances earned him a move to Ancona, before he later wore the Montefano shirt.

In 2022, Kerjota signed for Vigor Senigallia, making 69 appearances and scoring 19 goals. It was there that he began to attract greater attention. During the 2022–2023 season, he scored nine goals and provided 13 assists, establishing himself as one of Serie D’s most outstanding young players.

He improved his attacking contribution further in the following campaign, registering 10 goals and 16 assists.

Shining With Sambenedettese

In the summer of 2024, Kerjota signed for Sambenedettese. The Shkodër-born attacker quickly became one of the team’s key players, scoring 10 goals in 36 appearances and contributing 13 assists.

His performances helped Sambenedettese win the league and secure promotion to Serie C. Across three seasons in Italian football, Kerjota recorded a total of 71 goal contributions, a statistic that attracted interest from clubs outside Italy.

The Major Step to Scotland

On July 22, 2025, Heart of Midlothian announced the signing of Kerjota on a three-year contract. His move to the Scottish Premiership represented the biggest step of his career.

Kerjota made an immediate impact in his first Edinburgh derby against Hibernian. He entered as a substitute and, after spending only ten minutes on the pitch, provided the assist for the late winning goal.

The Albanian winger later contributed two more assists as Hearts came from behind to defeat Hibernian 2–1 at Easter Road.

On September 6, 2026, Kerjota scored his first goal for Hearts. He struck in the 96th minute to secure a dramatic 2–1 victory over Dundee at Tynecastle Park.

Directly Into Albania’s Senior Team

According to the available records, Sabah Kerjota has not previously represented Albania at U-17, U-19 or U-21 level. Rolando Maran’s invitation is therefore his first call-up at any international level—and it has come directly with the senior national team.

That makes his story even more remarkable. Kerjota did not follow the traditional pathway through Albania’s youth sides, but instead convinced the national team’s coaching staff through his performances at club level.

He can bring greater speed, energy and unpredictability to Albania’s attacking flanks. Depending on Maran’s tactical system, the Shkodër-born player could be used as an attacking winger, a wide forward or an option capable of changing the pace of a match from the bench.

Sabah Kerjota has built his career step by step, without taking shortcuts: from Vllaznia’s academy to the pitches of Italy’s lower divisions, then to the Scottish Premiership and now to the Albanian national team.

The call-up is only the first step. Kerjota now faces the greatest opportunity of his career: to make his debut in the red-and-black shirt and prove that he can become an important option for Albania.