Esmir Bajraktarević, born on March 10, 2005 in Appleton (Wisconsin, USA), is a soccer player from Bosnia and Herzegovina and a left-footed wing striker. Since January 2025, he has been playing for the Dutch champion PSV Eindhoven, and since 2024 he has also been a member of the senior national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a teenager, he developed in the USA, where he delighted the football public with his speed and technique – because of the dribbling, the fans called him the ‘Bosnian Messi’. Bajraktarević comes from a family of Bosniak refugees from Srebrenica; Parents Elmir and Emina arrived in the USA after the war in the former Yugoslavia. In club football, he went through Wave SC and Chicago Fire academies, and since 2021 in the New England Revoleution youth line-up.
- Born: March 10, 2005 in Appleton, Wisconsin (USA)
- Origin: Bosnia and Herzegovina (parents from Srebrenica, BiH)
- Position: left-legged wing striker
- Clubs: New England Revolution (MLS, USA) and PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie, Netherlands)
- Representation: Bosnia and Herzegovina (debuted on September 7, 2024)
Club career
Esmir started his professional career in the USA, at the New England Revolution. After great performances in the youth facility Revolutions, as a 17-year-old signed his first professional contract in May 2022. He played for a backup New England Revolution II (MLS Next Pro) from 2021 to 2023, playing 36 games and scoring 7 goals. In the main MLS team of Revolution for the 2022–2024 season. He made 45 appearances (28 as a starter) with 3 goals and 3 assists. He made his debut for New England in the championship in May 2022, and scored the first goal in the league in 2024 (spring season).
In January 2025, Bajraktarević made a big transfer to Europe – he signed for the Dutch PSV Eindhoven (a contract until 2029). He made his debut for PSV on January 18, 2025 in a match against Zwolla. Already in the same year, he won his first trophies: in May 2025, he became the champion of the Netherlands with PSV, and in August 2025, he won Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup). In August 2025, he also scored the first league goal for PSV – he scored two goals in the match against Groningen. The club presented him as a left-handed player for the right wing, ‘delicate with the ball, strong in one-on-one duels and strong crosses’. His transfer strengthened the fans’ confidence in his abilities and a new generation of young talent from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Representative career
Bajraktarević played for the younger selections of the United States and once for the senior team of the USA (friendly match against Slovenia, January 2024). In the summer of 2024, he announced a change in sports registration and a move to the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In August 2024, FIFA confirmed his change of citizenship, and on September 7, 2024, he made his debut for the ‘Dragons’ in the League of Nations match against the Netherlands, while registering assists. By the end of 2024, he played six games for Bosnia and Herzegovina (without a goal). He scored the first goal for the A-representation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 15, 2025 in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Romania (the match ended with a score of 3–1). With this, he achieved an important turnaround for his country and further raised the reputation of the future national team player.
Playing features
Esmir Bajraktarević stands out as a very dynamic and technically savvy winger. Club officials describe him as left-legged Player with exceptional ball control:
- Fast and nimble dribbler: He is characterized by ‘delicacy with the ball’, often passes opposing players one-on-one.
- Strong in a 1-on-1 duel: He is able to win an advantage in conflicts and create opportunities from individual actions.
- Good crossing: He makes precise penetrations and crosses into the opponent’s penalty area, creating opportunities for teammates.
- Recognized by goals: In addition to assisting, he is also capable of scoring a goal. He confirmed this with a goal against Romania for BiH (2-1).
His style of play is reminiscent of modern fast wingers, and because of his talent and ambition, he is often mentioned as one of the most promising BiH footballers of the younger generation.
Conclusion and call to action
Esmir Bajraktarević is a young football pearl with a unique story – an American born talent of Bosnian origin who quickly progressed from American leagues to European peaks. The already achieved successes in MLS and in PSV, as well as the debut for the BiH national team, confirm its great potential. With his games and character, he won over the fans in two countries, and in the coming season he will wear PSV’s jersey in Europe and continue to defend the colors of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you want to follow the latest news about the most important young football players and events in the football team, Stay with our portal. Share this article, comment and let us know what you think about Esmir Bajraktarević’s career and future!
Sources: Data and quotes were collected from verified sources, including Wikipedia, Bosnian newspaper portals and official club announcements.
