Doni Arifi (born 11 April 2002) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Greuther Fürth and the Finland national team.
Club career Arifi was born in Riihimäki but raised in Matinkylä, Espoo. He started to play football in FC Honka organisation, debuting in senior level with the club's reserve team in the third-tier Kakkonen in 2018.
In the early 2020, Arifi moved to Tampere and joined a fellow Veikkausliiga side Ilves. On 7 August 2021, he extended his contract with Ilves, on a deal until the end of 2024.Doni Arifi ja Ilves jatkosopimukseen - "Kohta on aika paljastaa salainen ase", Veikkausliiga, 7 August 2021DONI ARIFI JATKAA ILVEKSESSÄ PITKÄN JATKOSOPIMUKSEN TURVIN, ilvesedustus.fi, 7 August 2021Video: Rikkeestä suuttunut Ilveksen pelaaja kosti rumalla tempulla – raivo repesi: ”Ihan järkyttävää toimintaa”, Ilta-Sanomat, 26 September 2021 He missed most of the 2023 season due to injury, but contributed in four cup matches as Ilves won the 2023 Finnish Cup title.
In January 2025, Arifi left Ilves and signed with KuPS.KuPS ja Doni Arifi pelaajasopimukseen, kups.fi, 31 January 2025
On 3 January 2026, Arifi signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Greuther Fürth in German 2. Bundesliga.
International career Born and raised in Finland, Arifi is a former youth international for the country, before switching his allegiance to Kosovo at under-21 level in 2023.D.Arifi, worldfootball In August 2024, Arifi stated in an interview that he was still open to represent the country from which he receives the first full international call-up. He respected Finland where he was born and raised and educated as a player, and Kosovo as his parents' home country.Ilves-tähti Doni Arifi sisuuntui pelikaverien ja opettajien reaktioista – Jarkko Wissin esittämä kysymys sai napakan vastauksen, Aamulehti, 15 August 2024
On 28 August 2024, Arifi was called up to the Finland U21 squad by the head coach Mika Lehkosuo, for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Armenia and Romania.Pikkuhuuhkajat nimetty syyskuun otteluihin, Finnish FA, 28 August 2024 He made his under-21 debut for Finland on 6 September against Armenia. Eventually Arifi made four appearances in the qualifiers, in which Finland advanced to the final competition by defeating Norway in the play-offs. Arifi was later named in Finland's final squad for the tournament in June 2025, as a replacement for Leo Walta.
Personal life Arifi was born in Riihimäki, Finland to ethnic Albanian parents from Mitrovica.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHonka2018Veikkausliiga0010––102019Veikkausliiga0040––40Total0050000050Honka Akatemia2018Kakkonen140–––1402019Kakkonen160–––1602020Kakkonen1011––21Total310110000321Ilves II2020Kakkonen10–––10Ilves2020Veikkausliiga9000–101002021Veikkausliiga23030––2602022Veikkausliiga2602040–3202023Veikkausliiga804050–1702024Veikkausliiga233106040343Total893100150501193KuPS2025Veikkausliiga2913040140501Greuther Fürth2025–262. Bundesliga121–––121Career total16251911901902196
International
National teamYearCompetitiveFriendlyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFinland20260Appearances in the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League C.02Includes two appearances in the 2026 FIFA Series.020Total002020
Honours KuPS Veikkausliiga: 2025 Ilves Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2024Ilveksen päävalmentaja hopeasta: ”Voitettu mitali”, Yle, 19 October 2024 Finnish Cup: 2023
Finland FIFA Series: 2026
References