.jpg) Sykaj with Albania U21 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1990-04-16)16 April 1990 (age 35) | ||
| Place of birth | Shkodër, Albania | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Borgorosso Molfetta | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2007 | Vllaznia Shkodër | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2012 | Vllaznia | 57 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Kastrioti | 22 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | Vllaznia | 60 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Besëlidhja | 25 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Sopoti | 11 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | Teuta | 21 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Drenica | 54 | (2) |
| 2022– | Borgorosso Molfetta | ||
| International career | |||
| 2008–2009 | Albania U-19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2009 | Albania U-20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | Albania U-21 | 13 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 December 2019 | |||
Arsen Sykaj (born 16 April 1990) is an Albanian professionalfootballer who plays as acentre-back for Borgorosso Molfetta in the Italian fifth-tierEccellenza.
Born inShkodër, Sykaj is a product of theVllaznia Shkodër academy, where he took his first steps into football by joining his hometown club in 1997 at the age of 8. He progressed through the youth ranks at the club and eventually played for the under-17s before joining the under-19s, where he became a key player and impressed the coaches enough to earn him a call up to the senior team in 2007 to train with the first team players whilst still playing for the under-19s side.
Sykaj was loaned out toAlbanian First Division sideTërbuni Pukë at the beginning of the 2008–09 season in order to gain first team experience. Upon his arrival at Tërbuni he immediately became an important first team player as a centre back. His loan deal at the club expired prematurely in March 2009 following Tërbuni Pukë's disqualification from the First Division, thus leading to Sykaj's return to his parent club Vllaznia.
Following his return to Vllaznia, Sykaj became a first team player and he featured in 16 games during the 2009–10 season, 11 of which were substitute appearances. He also featured in Vllaznia'sAlbanian Cup run, which saw his side finish as runners-up, after being defeated byBesa Kavajë in the final. Sykaj played in the first leg of the quarter-finals as well as the second leg of the semi-finals, but did not feature in the final. The following season, he established himself further as a first team player, featuring in 22 league games, 20 of which were as a starting player, as he helped his side reach 3rd and earn aEuropa League qualifying place.
In the summer transfer window Sykaj, together withArsen Hajdari left Albanian Superliga side Vllaznia to join the Albanian First Division team Besëlidhja which its primary priority was to reach promotion to highest division.[1] He played the full-time at the first match of the 2015–16 season against newly promoted teamKorabi Peshkopi winning the match 1–0.
On 16 January 2017, Sykaj returned to top flight by completing a transfer toTeuta Durrës for an undisclosed fee.[2] He made his competitive debut on 5 February as a substitute in the matchday 20 againstKukësi[3] and finished the second part of 2016–17 season with 12 matches, including 11 in league, collecting 786 minutes. On 21 January 2018, Sukaj left the club by terminating the contract by mutual consent after having find difficulties to play regularly in the first part of2017–18 season.[4]
On 28 January 2018, Sykaj moved for the first time aboard and joined theFootball Superleague of Kosovo clubDrenica.[5]
Sykaj has been a formerAlbanian international, having representedunder-19,-20 and-21.
Sykaj was first called up to the seniorAlbania team on 30 September 2011 byJosip Kuže for the last twoEuro 2012 qualifying games againstFrance andRomania.[6][7]
