User:Beatpoet/sandboxZabeli

Erion Zabeli (born 8 September 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a central defender for club Brentford.

Zabeli is a product of the Watford and Oxford United academies and began his professional career with Brentford 2023. He has been capped by Albania at youth level.

Youth years
A central defender, Zabeli began his academy career with Watford. He began a two-year scholarship with Oxford United in 2021 and played the first senior football on his career on a work experience loan at non-League club Salisbury late in the 2022–23 season. Zabeli was offered a one year extension to his scholarship in April 2023, but he elected to depart the Kassam Stadium in July 2023.

Brentford
Late in the 2022–23 season, Zabeli joined the B team at Premier League club Brentford on trial. He was successful and on 5 July 2023, he signed a one-year contract, with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed fee. Zabeli was released when the club declined to take up the option on his contract at the end of the 2023–24 season.

International career
Zabeli was capped by Albania at U15, U16, U17 and U19 level. He was a part of the U16 squad which competed at the 2020 UEFA Development Tournament. Following four caps for Albania at U19 level,   Zabeli was called into a Kosovo U19 training camp in September 2022.

Style of play
Zabeli "is a ball-playing centre-back" who looks "to help the team with build-up play from the backline as well as taking care of his defensive duties".

Career statistics
