Esmir Bajraktarević

Bosnian footballer (born 2005)

Esmir Bajraktarević
Personal information
Date of birth	(2005-03-10) 10 March 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)^[1]
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	New England Revolution
Number	47
Youth career
	SC Wave
2019–2020	Chicago Fire
2020–2021	SC Wave
2021	New England Revolution
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	New England Revolution II	36	(7)
2022–	New England Revolution	38	(2)
International career^‡
2022	United States U19	3	(1)
2023–2024	United States U23	6	(1)
2024	United States	1	(0)
2024–	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 September 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 September 2024

Esmir Bajraktarević (pronounced [ěsmir bajraktâːreʋitɕ]; born 10 March 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. Born in the United States, he plays for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Bajraktarević started his professional career at New England Revolution, playing first in its reserve team.

A former American youth international, Bajraktarević also made his senior international debut for the United States, before switching his allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024.

Club career

New England Revolution

Bajraktarević started playing football at a local club SC Wave, before joining Chicago Fire's youth setup in 2019. The following year, he returned to SC Wave. A year later, he switched to New England Revolution's youth academy. In May 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the team. He made his professional debut playing for New England Revolution's reserve squad against Tormenta on 22 August 2021 at the age of 16. On 11 September, he scored his first professional goal against North Carolina.^[2]

Bajraktarević made his first-team debut in a U.S. Open Cup game against New York City on 26 May 2022 at the age of 17. Three months later, he made his league debut against Toronto.^[3] On 8 August 2023, he scored his first goal for the side in a Leagues Cup match against Querétaro.^[4] Ten months later, he scored his first league goal for the club in a triumph over Nashville.^[5]

International career

After representing the United States at various youth levels, Bajraktarević made his senior international debut in a friendly game against Slovenia on 20 January 2024. However, in May, he decided that he would play for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future.^[6]

In August, his request to change sports citizenship from American to Bosnian was approved by FIFA.^[7] Later that month, he received his first senior call-up, for 2024–25 UEFA Nations League games against the Netherlands and Hungary.^[8] He debuted against the former on 7 September as a substitute, assisting his childhood idol Edin Dzeko in his side's 5-2 loss to the Dutch.^[9]^[10]

Personal life

Born in the United States, Bajraktarević is of Bosnian descent; his family is from Srebrenica.^[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 September 2024^[12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			U.S. Open Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
New England Revolution II	2021	USL League One	11	1	–		–		–		11	1
	2022	MLS Next Pro	17	0	–		–		–		17	0
	2023	MLS Next Pro	8	6	–		–		1^[a]	2	9	8
	Total		36	7	–		–		1	2	37	9
New England Revolution	2022	Major League Soccer	3	0	1	0	–		–		4	0
	2023	Major League Soccer	13	0	2	0	1^[b]	1	0	0	16	1
	2024	Major League Soccer	22	2	0	0	8^[c]	1	–		30	3
	Total		38	2	3	0	9	1	0	0	50	3
Career total			74	9	3	0	9	1	1	2	87	12

^ Appearance in MLS Next Pro Playoffs
^ Appearance in Leagues Cup
^ Six appearances, one goal in CONCACAF Champions Cup; two appearances in Leagues Cup

International

As of match played 10 September 2024^[13]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
United States
	2024	1	0
	Total	1	0
Bosnia and Herzegovina
	2024	2	0
	Total	2	0
Career total		3	0

References

^ "Esmir Bajraktarevic". revolutionsoccer.net. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
^ "New England Revolution sign 17-year-old Esmir Bajraktarević as Homegrown Player". soccerwire.com. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
^ "The Story of Esmir Bajraktarevic, A Rising Star In American Soccer". theblazingmusket.com. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
^ "Esmir Bajraktarevic nets first goal, but Revolution fall in PKs during Leagues Cup". masslive.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
^ "Esmir Bajraktarevic scores first goal to help Revolution snap Nashville's shutout streak". masslive.com. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
^ "Debitant Esmir Bajraktarević: Poziv u reprezentaciju je ispunjenje sna". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
^ "Barbarez: Đakovac i Bajraktarević bi trebali donijeti novu dinamiku u reprezentaciji BiH". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
^ "Sergej Barbarez objavio spisak za utakmice protiv Nizozemske i Mađarske: Pozvao i dva nova Zmaja". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 16 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
^ "Slabašna BiH primila pet golova od Nizozemske, Bajraktarević jedini svijetla tačka". fokus.ba (in Bosnian). 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ Nye, Josh. "Revolution International Roundup". www.theblazingmusket.com. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
^ "INTERVJU/ Bosansko čudo iz SAD-a: Moji su iz Srebrenice, u meni je BiH, a Džeku gledam od pete godine".
^ "E. Bajraktarević". soccerway.com. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
^ "Esmir Bajraktarević". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 September 2024.