West Ham United may have a European trophy in their collection these days thanks to that Conference League success in 2023, but the Hammers fans will still recall the sting of a humbling defeat at the qualification stage.
Seven years before Jarrod Bowen chiselled his name into West Ham United folklore in Prague, a Slaven Bilic-led side suffered a humbling 1-0 home defeat by Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League play-offs.
It goes without saying, really, but this was not exactly the rip-roaring start they were looking for in their new London Stadium home.
Just to add insult to injury, this was the second year in a row in which West Ham had been kicked out of continental competition by a club which doesn’t even exist these days.
Shortly after Astra Giurgiu suffered a remarkable, rock-bottom 19-0 loss at the hands of Arsenal Tunari in the Romanian third tier, the side that haunted Bilic’s nightmares folded in 2021 following a series of off-the-field calamities.
Now, at the risk of sounding a little over-dramatic, there may have been a few FC Lugano supporters who may have wished in the heat of the moment that they too would be afforded the sweet relief of liquidation.
And, making his first appearance since reportedly agreeing terms with the Hammers, this was hardly the return to action Albian Hajdari was hoping for.
FC Lugano defender Albian Hajdari during Switzerland v Luxembourg - International Friendly
Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images
Albian Hajdari suffers FC Lugano nightmare as West Ham United transfer stalls
Towards the end of July, Fussball Transfers reported that Albian Hajdari had a ‘verbal agreement’ with West Ham ahead of a seemingly-imminent switch to the English capital.
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Three weeks later, however, an official announcement now feels anything but imminent.
Swiss publication BlueWin claim that Hajdari’s move to West Ham has ‘stalled’. This may have something to do with the lack of movement surrounding Nayef Aguerd. A ball-playing left-footed central defender, Hajdari appeared the likely successor for the Morocco international.
But as Roma seemingly cool their interest in Aguerd – links with Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Marseille have dried up too after Real Sociedad opted against pursuing a permanent deal for last season’s loanee – the suggestion is that West Ham may have placed Hajdari on the backburner until a solution can be found regarding the man who inherits the number five shirt after Vladimir Coufal’s release.
Hajdari back in action after Lugano coach suggested Hammers move was ‘imminent’
Capped by Switzerland at Under-21 level, Albian Hajdari was left out by FC Lugano for their first two games of the new Swiss Super League season. Mattia Croci-Torti, the club’s head coach, had described the defender’s exit as ‘imminent’ shortly after claims of his West Ham agreement emerged.
Now, in quotes reported by Corriere del Ticino after Hajdari belatedly played his first competitive minutes of 2025/26, Croci-Torti was a man singing a very different tune.
“The club spoke to me calmly, but the transfer market didn’t go as expected [for Hajdari],” the manager said on Thursday night. “He was available to me, and considering his absences, I used him.
“I wouldn’t have wanted to play him. He’s not to blame today.”
It would certainly be harsh to pin the blame for Lugano’s 5-0 battering by Slovenian outfit NK Celje at Hajdari’s door. The visitors were already cruising three goals to nil by the time Croci-Torti introduced the 22-year-old for the first time since that Fussball Transfers bombshell.
But, with this Europa Conference League qualifying tie all-but dead already heading into next week’s second leg in Slovenia, a traumatised Lugano find themselves in the midst of their own Astra Giurgiu moment.