The former Bundesliga starlet was a man in high demand after building a blistering record in Schalke's youth system. Avdijaj first joined the Miners in 2011 and scored 76 goals in 77 games for Schalke's under-17 and under-19 teams before joining the senior side.
That rich vein of form at under-age level led to interest from the Premier League and even Real Madrid before he signed professional terms in Gelsenkirchen. However, Avdijaj later came to regret his decision after his career tailed off somewhat, bouncing from club to club as a journeyman.
Avdijaj ended up making just 12 senior appearances in seven years at Schalke prior to his permanent departure for Dutch side Willem II in the summer of 2018. However, he's struggled to find consistency in his career since then and bounced around between clubs from Turkey, Scotland, Cyprus and Switzerland without finding a long-term home.
Now 27, the versatile winger and playmaker is once again impressing for Hartberg in the top tier of Austrian football. Avdijaj closed this season with 12 goals and six assists in 25 appearances for the club managed by Markus Schopp, who was in charge of Sturm Graz's reserves when he spent an 18-month spell on loan there a decade ago.
Donis Avdijaj of Hartberg and Mads Bidstrup of Salzburg during the Admiral Bundesliga match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and TSV Egger Glas Hartbeg
Avdijaj is now thriving with Hartberg in Austria (Image: Franz Kirchmayr/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)
Brendan Rodgers was in charge at Anfield around when Avdijaj was first linked with a move, which is regarded as a somewhat chaotic time in Liverpool's transfer history. The Reds restored a more consistent recruitment system under now-departed Jurgen Klopp and will be hoping for more success under his successor, Arne Slot.
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At the time of his interview with Sport1, Avdijaj remained hopeful of carving out a rich football career at the top level of the sport. He insisted he's "never doubted" himself not his ability to make a difference on the field.
"I know that it is up to me what my sporting future looks like," he said. "It certainly doesn't matter whether I've played at one club for five years or have 10 clubs in five years. In the end, only one thing counts for me, namely that I can play football and show what I can do."
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