Brajan Gruda Explained

Brajan Gruda
Birth Date:31 May 2004
Birth Place:Speyer, Germany[1]
Height:1.78 m
Position:Attacking midfielder
Currentclub:Brighton & Hove Albion
Clubnumber:8
Youthyears1:2010–2015
Youthclubs1:FV Speyer
Youthyears2:2015–2018
Youthclubs2:Karlsruher SC
Youthyears3:2018–2023
Youthclubs3:Mainz 05
Years1:2023–2024
Clubs1:Mainz 05
Caps1:30
Goals1:4
Years2:2024–
Clubs2:Brighton & Hove Albion
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:Germany U15
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2019
Nationalteam2:Germany U16
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2022
Nationalteam3:Germany U18
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2022
Nationalteam4:Germany U19
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:4
Nationalyears5:2023–
Nationalteam5:Germany U21
Nationalcaps5:7
Nationalgoals5:1
Club-Update:21 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:19:31, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Brajan Gruda (born 31 May 2004) is an Albanian-German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Club career

Mainz 05

Born in Speyer, Gruda began his career with local side FV Speyer, before joining Karlsruher SC in 2015.[1] He joined Mainz 05 at the age of 14, and signed his first professional contract with the club in November 2022.[2]

In January 2023, he was promoted to take part in first team training, and made his senior debut on 25 January 2023 in a 2–1 home Bundesliga defeat against Borussia Dortmund.[3] Later that year, on 6 October, he scored his first goal in a 2–2 away draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach.[4]

On 18 May 2024, he scored and assisted in a 3–1 victory against VfL Wolfsburg, confirming Mainz 05's survival in the Bundesliga on the last day of the season.[5]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 14 August 2024, Gruda signed for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, signing a contract until 2028.[6]

International career

Gruda is of Albanian descent. He has represented Germany at youth international level.[7]

In September 2023, he was first called up by Germany U21, and he made his U21 debut in a 3–0 victory against Kosovo, he provided three assists in the match.[8] [9]

In May 2024, he trained with the senior national team prior to the UEFA Euro 2024.[10] He departed the training camp on 5 June after a calf injury.[11]

Personal life

Gruda is the son of Albanian former Vllaznia Shkodër player Bujar Gruda.[12] He is also related to fellow footballer Ildi Gruda.[12] His ancestry traces to the Albanian Gruda tribe of Northern Albania.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mainz 052022–23Bundesliga201030
2023–24Bundesliga28410294
Career total30420324

Honours

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brajan Gruda. 25 January 2023. bundesliga.com.
  2. Web site: 2022-11-18 . 05-TALENT GRUDA ERHÄLT PROFIVERTRAG . https://web.archive.org/web/20221118120312/https://www.mainz05.de/news/05-talent-brajan-gruda-erhaelt-profivertrag/ . 2022-11-18 . 2024-06-02 . Mainz 05 . de.
  3. Web site: Gruda debuts in professional football with Mainz in the Bundesliga . KOHA.net . 25 January 2023 .
  4. Web site: Borussia Mönchengladbach 2–2 1. FSV Mainz 05 . Bundesliga . 6 October 2023 .
  5. Web site: 2024-05-18 . Geile Mannschaft, geile Jungs . https://web.archive.org/web/20240528122656/https://www.mainz05.de/news/geile-mannschaft-geile-jungs . 2024-05-28 . 2024-06-05 . 1. FSV Mainz 05 . de.
  6. Web site: Brighton sign midfielder Gruda from Mainz for £25m . . 14 August 2024 . 14 August 2024 . live.
  7. Web site: Brajan Gruda . German Football Association . de .
  8. Web site: 2023-09-13 . Gruda überzeugt, Mwene & Onisiwo auf EM-Kurs . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002074616/https://www.mainz05.de/news/gruda-ueberzeugt-mwene-und-onisiwo-auf-em-kurs . 2023-10-02 . 2024-06-07 . 1. FSV Mainz 05 . de.
  9. Web site: 2014-03-06 . Kosovo U21 0:3 (0:0) Deutschland U21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123215346/https://www.dfb.de/u-21-maenner/spiele-termine/spiele/?no_cache=1&spieledb_path=%2Fdatencenter%2Fem-qualifikation-1109%2F2023-24%2Fgruppe-d%2Fkosovo-u-21-deutschland-u-21-2351401 . 2024-01-23 . 2024-06-07 . DFB - Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. . de.
  10. Web site: DFB-Überraschung zum Geburtstag! Youngster-Duo bleibt länger . Sky Sport . 29 May 2024 .
  11. Web site: 2014-03-06 . Kosovo U21 0:3 (0:0) Deutschland U21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123215346/https://www.dfb.de/u-21-maenner/spiele-termine/spiele/?no_cache=1&spieledb_path=%2Fdatencenter%2Fem-qualifikation-1109%2F2023-24%2Fgruppe-d%2Fkosovo-u-21-deutschland-u-21-2351401 . 2024-01-23 . 2024-06-07 . DFB - Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. . de.
  12. Web site: Brajan Gruda, “pinjolli” i familjes Gruda grumbullohet me Kombëtaren U15 të Gjermanisë. Brajan Gruda, the "kid" of the Gruda family, joins the U15 National Team of Germany. 10 January 2019. 25 January 2023. shkoder.info. Albanian.
  13. Web site: Die Preisträger 2023 . dfb.de . de-DE . 8 September 2023.