MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Tuesday the acquisition of Swiss international midfielder Blerim Dzemaili (Djay-My-Lee) on loan from Italian club Bologna FC 1909. He will occupy a Designated Player roster spot. He will officially join the squad after passing his medical and obtaining his Canadian work permit.
Dzemaili, 31, joins the Impact after having played this past season in Serie A, the first division in Italy, with Bologna FC 1909, finishing tied for first place in goals within the team with a total of nine in all competitions. He recorded eight goals and three assists in 31 Serie A games, including 29 starts, and 2,584 minutes. He also scored one goal in the Coppa Italia round of 16 against Inter Milan. He was named Player of the month for Bologna FC 1909 in November and in January.
Since the start of his career, Dzemaili mainly played in Italy and in Switzerland, taking part in 223 Serie A games (with Torino FC, Parma Calcio, SSC Napoli, Genoa CFC and Bologna FC 1909) and in 111 Swiss Super League games, all with FC Zürich. He also played with English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers FC and in Turkey with Galatasaray S.K.
He is a winner of two Coppa Italias, two Swiss league titles, two Swiss Cups, one Turkish league title and one Turkish Cup.
On the international stage, Dzemaili recorded six goals and three assists in 56 games with the Swiss national team. He was called up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, playing three games and scoring one goal against France in the group stage. He also started all four of Switzerland’s games at Euro 2016, in France, on the way to a round of 16 exit. He was also part of the squad that traveled to Germany for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. His international resume also includes many FIFA World Cup and European Championship qualifying games. He made his debut with the Nati on March 1, 2006, during a friendly against Scotland. He also featured in the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005, in the Netherlands.
Transaction: The Montreal Impact acquires Swiss international midfielder Blerim Dzemaili on loan from Italian club Bologna FC 1909 and he will occupy a Designated Player roster spot.
BLERIM DZEMAILI
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 160 lbs
Birthdate and birthplace: April 12, 1986, in Tetovo, Macedonia
Previous club: Bologna FC 1909
Date acquired: May 9, 2017
