Mario Mitaj

Mario Mitaj (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈmaɾio miˈtaj]; born 6 August 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Born in Greece, he represents the Albania at international level.

A product of the AEK Athens academy, Mitaj made his senior debut in the Super League Greece at the age of 17 and went on to feature for both the first team and the reserve side, AEK Athens B, until 2022, establishing himself as one of the most promising young defenders to emerge from the club. He transferred to Lokomotiv Moscow in 2022, before joining Al-Ittihad in 2024 on loan. Known for his pace, defensive positioning and composure in possession, he helped Al-Ittihad win the Saudi Pro League and the King’s Cup, completing a domestic double in his debut season.

Despite born in Greece, Mitaj represents the Albania national team at international level. Having made his senior debut in 2021 at the age of 17, he became a regular starter during UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying, and went on to play every minute for Albania at the final tournament in Germany.

Born in Athens to Albanian parents from Vermosh, Mitaj began playing football at a young age before joining the youth academy of AEK Athens in 2017, after being scouted while playing for local academies in Albania. Having moved to Greece at a young age, he quickly adapted to AEK’s system and was regarded as one of the most promising defenders in the club’s youth setup. Known for his tactical intelligence, composure on the ball, and versatility, he was regularly deployed both as a left-back and as a central defender in the Super League Greece U-19 championship.

During the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, Mitaj became a standout performer for AEK’s under-17 and under-19 teams, contributing to the club’s strong showings in domestic youth competitions and attracting attention from the senior team staff. His maturity on and off the pitch led AEK to promote him to first-team training sessions in the summer of 2020.

On 12 August 2020, Mitaj signed his first professional contract with AEK Athens and officially became part of the senior squad.

Just two months later, on 18 October 2020, he made his first Super League Greece appearance in a 1–1 draw against PAOK, becoming the youngest foreign player in AEK’s history to feature in an official match, at only 17 years, 2 months, and 13 days old. His debut came in a high-profile away fixture in Thessaloniki, where he delivered a composed and promising performance despite his young age, drawing positive notes from sports media.

Following his debut season, on 2 February 2021, AEK rewarded him with a new contract running until the summer of 2023, reflecting the club’s confidence in his potential. Under managers Massimo Carrera and later Vladan Milojević, Mitaj gradually earned more first-team minutes, often used as a deputy for experienced left-back Ehsan Hajsafi. Known for his composure, intelligent positioning, and ability to advance play from the back, he established himself as one of the most technically refined young defenders in the Greek league.