Elseid Hysaj

Two months after Elseid's birth, his father Gëzim emigrated to Italy, like many Albanians had done in the 1990s, in search of employment opportunities in order to provide for his family.

Elseid grew up in Shkodër with his mother and grandparents while his father worked in Italy as a bricklayer.

Hysaj himself started his youth career aged 7 with KF Shkodra, an amateur club based in his birthplace Shkodër and managed by Taip Piraniqi.

While working at the home of football agent Marco Piccioli, his father mentioned that his son was a talented footballer, however due to Elseid being only 10 years of age at the time, Piccioli advised Gëzim to wait.

When Elseid had turned 14 he traveled to Italy where he was assessed by Piccioli and attended trials at various clubs, including Fiorentina before eventually joining the Empoli academy.

Elseid Gëzim Hysaj (born 2 February 1994) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Serie A club Lazio and captains the Albania national team.

Hysaj was born in Reç, Malësi e Madhe, Albania.

Hysaj was first called for the Empoli senior squad for the 9th game week of the 2011–12 Serie B season against Varese on 9 October 2011, in which Hysaj was an unused substitute for the entire match.

During the second half of the season, he was called-up twice more for matches in March and April but again remained as an unused substitute.

He made his professional debut with the first team on 24 November 2011 in a Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina, playing the full 90-minutes in the 2–1 loss.

Hysaj made his league debut on 20 October 2012 in the matchday 10 against Virtus Lanciano, which finished in a 0–3 away victory, where he came on as a 67th-minute substitute.

Empoli eventually finished the 2012–13 season in 4th place and therefore qualified for the promotion playoffs.

Hysaj finished 2012–13 season with Empoli, making a total of 35 appearances, by where 30 in league, 1 in Coppa Italia and 4 in Serie B promotion playoffs, offering one assistance.

In semifinals they played against Novara, in where Hysaj played full 90-minutes in both legs, first on 22 May 2013, with the match finishing in a 1–1 away draw and in the second leg on 26 May 2013, which Empoli won 4–1.

Empoli then played in the two-legged final against Livorno.

On 29 May 2013, Hysaj played another full 90-minutes in the first leg of the final against Livorno, finished in the draw 1–1 and another one in the second leg final on 2 June 2013, finished in the loss 1–0, At this way Livorno promoted to 2013–14 Serie A on aggregate 2–1.

and in the second leg on 26 May 2013, which Empoli won 4–1.

On 19 September 2013, he renewed his contract with Empoli until 2015.

Hysaj scored his first professional goal on 17 April 2014 in the match against Virtus Lanciano.

The goal came in the 4th minute after he received a pass in the entrance area, made an zig-zag move between three opponents then issued a left-foot shoot, which was stopped at the gate of the squad triangle, but the strike was not enough, as Empoli loss the match within 2–1 result.

On 30 May 2014, Empoli ended their six-year absence from Serie A by earning promotion from Italy's Serie B.

He made his Serie A debut on 31 August 2014 in the opening match against Udinese, which finished in a 2–0 defeat.

Hysaj begun in the best way possible the year 2015, because after a goalless draw with his squad against Verona, he was selected by sports analysts in the best lineup of the 17th week of Serie A.

In his last season at Empoli, Hysaj played a total of 36 league games, including 33 as a starter.

He appeared also in 3 Coppa Italia matches, where Empoli was eliminated in Round of 16 by Roma in extra-time.

In July 2015, Hysaj concluded a deal with the fellow Serie A side Napoli, following former Empoli coach Maurizio Sarri and player Mirko Valdifiori to the club.

On 3 August 2015, Hysaj completed his transfer at Napoli and signed on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €5 million, becoming the second most expensive move involving Albanian international players behind of Lorik Cana which currently holds the record with a €6.75 million move from Galatasaray to Lazio in July 2011.

He made his competitive with the club on 23 August 2015 in the opening league match against Sassuolo, which finished in a 2–1 away defeat.

He showed an impressive form at the club to become a regular starter under the coach Maurizio Sarri and also playing the entire 90-minute matches, substituting off in just a few cases and leaving behind the Italian international Christian Maggio.

Hysaj made his European debut on 17 September 2015 in the Europa League group stage match against Club Brugge, which ended in a 5–0 home win.

Napoli finished the Group D in the first place by winning all matches, and was drawn to play Villarreal in the Round of 32.

On 8 February 2016 Hysaj was included in the best 11 of Serie A youth players by football analyst Gianluca Di Marzio among big names such as Juventus players, Paul Pogba, Paulo Dybala, Inter Milan player Mauro Icardi and Milan player M'Baye Niang.

Calciomercato selected Hysaj as the best right-back in Serie A.

He was ranked third at Napoli for most minutes played during the entire season including all competitions.

In the end of the season his value went €18 million becoming the most valuable player of Albania national team.

Later on 31 October, Hysaj signed a new contract keeping him at the club until June 2017.

His salary would also increase from €170,000 to €200,000.

Hysaj made his 100th appearance in all competitions for Napoli on 21 October 2017 in the goalless home draw against Internazionale valid for the matchday 9 of 2017–18 Serie A.

Chelsea made a bid for Hysaj in the summer of 2018 for £43 million.

However, Hysaj's agent valued him at €60 million.