Union Berlin have signed Swiss midfielder Kastriot Imeri. The 26-year-old joins from Swiss club Bern for a transfer fee of 2.4 million euros, as reported by Bild on Tuesday.
Imeri becomes the second Swiss player to follow coach Mauro Lustrinelli to Berlin this summer, after Michel Aebischer's arrival from Bologna. Lustrinelli knows Imeri well from their time together at FC Thun, where the coach guided the midfielder to a championship title last season. Under Lustrinelli, Imeri also made his debut for the Swiss U21 national team in 2020.
Why did Union Berlin sign Kastriot Imeri?
The signing of Kastriot Imeri fulfills a specific request from coach Mauro Lustrinelli. After the 3:3 draw against Frankfurt, the 50-year-old Swiss had demanded further new signings from manager Horst Heldt. Imeri was a key player for Lustrinelli at Thun, contributing six goals and eight assists to their championship win. His contract with Bern ran until next year, but after Lustrinelli's departure, Thun did not exercise their purchase option.
Union Berlin begin the new Bundesliga season with one point from one game and currently sit seventh in the table. With three goals scored and three conceded, the team shows balanced statistics. The club trails league leaders Bayern Munich by two points. The next challenge comes on November 21st with a home match against currently second-placed RB Leipzig, as shown in our standings.
Where will Kastriot Imeri play for Union?
Kastriot Imeri prefers the left wing but can also play on the right side or in attacking midfield. This flexibility makes him valuable for Lustrinelli's tactical variations. The coach is seeking solutions to boost attacking power after Union scored three but also conceded three goals at the start of the season.
Whether Imeri will be available for Saturday's 15:30 match in Leverkusen remains uncertain. The Swiss player suffered a thigh injury in early August during Bern's 2:2 draw with Lausanne. He has recently returned to training with Bern, but his availability still needs assessment. Fans can track squad status on our injuries page.
What does the transfer mean for Union's squad planning?
The transfer of Kastriot Imeri comes during an active phase for Union Berlin. The club recently sold 21-year-old striker Ilyas Ansah for 22 million euros plus potential add-ons. These financial resources now enable further reinforcements like Imeri.
With Imeri and Aebischer, Lustrinelli is deliberately building a Swiss connection at Union. Both players know his methods and philosophy, which should speed up integration. For the coming weeks, Union face a tough challenge with the home match against RB Leipzig. All upcoming fixtures can be found in our fixtures schedule.
The signing demonstrates Union's ambitions to achieve their season goals after a mixed start with one point from one game. Imeri's statistical output from Switzerland – six goals and eight assists in a championship season – promises offensive power that Union could use well in their fight for European places.
