Lorent Tolaj

Lorent Tolaj (born 23 October 2001) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Port Vale. He represented Switzerland internationally up to under-19 level. He scored eight goals in one match to set the record for the most goals scored in an under-19 Euro qualifier.

Tolaj joined Brighton & Hove Albion from FC Sion in 2018. He won the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup with the under-23 team, though he never played a first-team game for the club at senior level. He instead spent time on loan at Cambridge United, Salford City and Dundee. He joined Aldershot Town in July 2023 and scored 25 goals in the 2023–24 season, also winning the National League Player of the Month award for January 2024. He was sold to Port Vale in June 2024.

Brighton & Hove Albion
Born in Aigle, Tolaj joined Brighton & Hove Albion's academy in June 2018 after playing youth football for Swiss side FC Sion. On 3 December 2019, he played for the under-23 side against Newport County in the second round of the EFL Trophy, when his missed penalty lost the shoot-out following a 0–0 draw after 90 minutes. Coach Simon Rusk said it was a result despite Tolaj also missing "a golden late chance" before the final whistle. He missed nine months of the 2020–21 season with knee and hamstring injuries.

On 31 January 2022, he joined Brighton teammate Jensen Weir at EFL League One club Cambridge United on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season after having scored eight goals and three assists for the Brighton under-23 side in the first half of the campaign. A day later, he made his debut for the U's as a substitute in a 2–0 away defeat at Bolton Wanderers. On 18 April, it was confirmed that Tolaj had left the Abbey Stadium and returned to his parent club after only making five substitute appearances in all competitions for Cambridge. Cambridge manager Mark Bonner said that Joe Ironside had returned from injury quicker than expected and that he wanted to prioritise playing time for his club's own players. Tolaj scored two goals for the Seagulls' under-23 side in their 4–2 win over Worthing in the 2022 Sussex Senior Challenge Cup final. Following the game, coach Andrew Crofts said that "he probably felt a little bit hard done by [at Cambridge] but Lorent has got an exciting future".

On 23 August 2022, Tolaj signed for League Two side Salford City on loan for the 2022–23 season. He scored his first goal in the English Football League (EFL) on 22 November, in a 1–0 EFL Trophy victory over Bradford City at Moor Lane, winning praise from manager Neil Wood for his shooting. This was his only goal in 17 appearances for the Ammies. On 31 January 2023, Tolaj left Salford and joined Scottish Championship club Dundee on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut for the Dark Blues as a substitute in a league game away to Hamilton Academical. He made a further two substitute appearances for manager Gary Bowyer. In April, Tolaj returned to Brighton after suffering an injury to his achilles tendon, and would only briefly return to Dens Park before the issue flared up again. On 16 June 2023, Tolaj was released from his contract with Brighton without making a first-team appearance at Falmer Stadium.

Aldershot Town
On 7 July 2023, Tolaj joined National League side Aldershot Town on a one-year deal. Manager Tommy Widdrington recalled how head of recruitment Jamie Hedges had to persuade him to play non-League football in England to win a move back into the EFL rather than return to Switzerland and earn more money in the Swiss Challenge League. Tolaj was sent off in a pre-season game at Farnborough. He scored a brace in his debut for the Shots, in a 5–2 league win over Oxford City. On 28 August, Tolaj would play part of a league game away to Eastleigh as a goalkeeper after Shots goalie Jordi van Stappershoef was sent off. On 14 October, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Lewes in an FA Cup qualification round match at the Recreation Ground to earn himself a place on the FA Cup Team of the Week. On 4 November, he scored a brace against League Two side Swindon Town in a 7–4 victory in the FA Cup proper. In February 2024, the club announced they had triggered an option in Tolaj's contract to see him remain there until June 2025. This came after an impressive run of form during January, scoring four goals and assisting another, which won him the National League Player of the Month award. On 12 March, he scored a brace in a 4–1 win over Ebbsfleet United to win a place on the National League Team of Midweek. Aldershot missed out on the play-offs at the end of the 2023–24 season after finishing in eighth place, two points behind Gateshead. The Aldershot Town Supporters Club named him their Player of the Season, while the players voted him as Players’ Player of the Season.

Port Vale
On 28 June 2024, Tolaj joined League Two club Port Vale for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.

International career
Born in Switzerland, Tolaj is of Kosovan descent. He has represented Switzerland internationally at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels. On 19 November 2019, Tolaj scored eight goals in Switzerland U19's 16–1 win over Gibraltar U19, setting the record for the most goals scored in an under-19 Euro qualifier.

Style of play
Tolaj is a forward who can hold the ball up and also has good movement around the penalty area. He has a powerful left-footed shot. He described himself as "a number nine striker", adding "I'm a powerful striker, quick and I'm confident in front of goal".

Honours
Brighton & Hove Albion U23
 * Sussex Senior Challenge Cup: 2022

Individual
 * National League Player of the Month: January 2024
 * Aldershot Town Players’ Player of the Season: 2023–24