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Mario Mitaj
	Mitaj with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Mario Mitaj
Date of birth	6 August 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Athens, Greece
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Team information
Current team	Al Ittihad; (on loan from Lokomotiv Moscow)
Number	12
Youth career
2017–2020	AEK Athens
Senior career*
Years	Team
2020–2022	AEK Athens
2021–2022	AEK Athens B
2022–	Lokomotiv Moscow
2024–	→ Al Ittihad (loan)
International career‡
2019	Albania U16
2018–2019	Albania U17
2020–	Albania U21
2021–	Albania
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 November 2024; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:04, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

Mario Mitaj (born 6 August 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad, on loan from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. Born in Greece, he represents Albania at international level.^[2]

Club career

AEK Athens

On 12 August 2020, Mitaj signed his first professional contract with Greek club AEK Athens and immediately started training with the first team.^[3]

On 18 October 2020, he made his first league appearance in a game against PAOK, thus becoming the youngest foreign player in club history to feature in a competitive fixture, at 17 years, 2 months and 13 days old.^[4]

On 2 February 2021, he signed a new contract, running until the summer of 2023.^[5]

On 10 August 2021, the Albanian defender signed a new deal, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2026.^[6]

Lokomotiv Moscow

On 27 August 2022, Mitaj signed a five-year contract with Russian Premier League club Lokomotiv Moscow.^[7] The transfer fee was €3 million and AEK also kept a percentage for the next Mitaj's transfer.

Loan to Al Ittihad

On 3 September 2024, Mitaj was loaned to Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad for one year, with an option to buy.^[8] The fee is reported to be around 1.2 million €.

International career

Having lived in Nea Ionia, Attica, Greece for a large part of his life, Mitaj was eligible to represent both Albania and Greece at international level. After having featured in all young Albanian squads, he earned his first cap for Albania's senior squad on 31 March 2021, in a 2–0 victory over San Marino for the 2022 European FIFA World Cup qualifiers, becoming cap-tied to Albania in the process. With this appearance, he became Albania's second youngest ever international player at 17 years and 237 days old.^[9]

He is selected from the list of 26 Albanian players of the Sylvinho coach to participate in UEFA Euro 2024.^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 September 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup^[a]		Europe		Other^[b]		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
AEK Athens	2020–21	SLG	10	0	2	0	1^[c]	0	0	0	13	0
	2021–22	SLG	1	0	0	0	2^[d]	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		11	0	2	0	3	0	0	0	16	0
AEK Athens B	2021–22	Super League Greece 2	20	0	—		—		—		20	0
Lokomotiv Moscow	2022–23	RPL	14	0	4	0	—		—		18	0
	2023–24		21	0	6	0	—		—		27	0
	2024–25		1	0	3	0	—		—		4	0
	Total		36	0	13	0	—		—		49	0
Career total			67	0	15	0	3	0	0	0	85	0