Florent Hoti

Florent Hoti (born 11 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Halifax Town. He has previously played for Rochdale, Dundee United and Arbroath, and had a loan spell at Forfar Athletic. Born in England, he is a youth international for Kosovo.

Florent Hoti

Hoti playing for Rochdale U18 in October 2017
Personal information
Full name	Florent Hoti[1]
Date of birth	(2000-12-11) 11 December 2000 (age 24)[2]
Place of birth	Manchester, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)[3]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	FC Halifax Town
Number	18
Youth career
2011–2018	Rochdale
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Rochdale	0	(0)
2020–2022	Dundee United	9	(0)
2020–2021	→ Forfar Athletic (loan)	6	(0)
2022–2023	Arbroath	6	(0)
2023	Tranmere Rovers	5	(0)
2023–	FC Halifax Town	42	(8)
International career‡
2021–2022	Kosovo U21	7	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:59, 17 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 09:46, 24 March 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Having been part of Rochdale's academy since the age of 10, Hoti signed for the club on a two-year scholarship in 2017.^[4] He made his debut for Rochdale on 4 September 2018, coming on as a 79th minute substitute in a 2–1 home victory against Bury in the EFL Trophy.^[5] On 7 November 2018, he started in Rochdale's 2–2 draw at home to Leicester City Under-23s in the EFL Trophy.^[6] Hoti was offered his first professional contract with the club at the end of the 2018–19 season.^[7]

Hoti had a trial at Scottish Premiership club Dundee United in August 2020,^[8] and signed a two-year contract with the club for an undisclosed fee the following month.^[9][10] He joined Scottish League One club Forfar Athletic on loan in October,^[11] then returned to Dundee United in January 2021 following the suspension of the lower divisions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[12] He made his debut for Dundee United on 10 April 2021 in a 1–0 Scottish Premiership win away to Hamilton Academical, with Dundee United manager Micky Mellon stating that "he has come on and showed what a lad of great promise he is."^[13]

On 11 November 2022, Hoti signed for Scottish Championship side Arbroath on a short-term deal.^[14] On 25 January 2023, Arbroath confirmed that Florent had left the club.^[15]

In March 2023, Hoti joined EFL League Two side Tranmere Rovers on a short-term deal after a successful trial.^[16] On 9 May 2023 the club announced he was being released.^[17]

International career

Hoti was selected to participate in an Albania national under-21 team's training camp and practice matches in March 2021, but was unable to join the squad due to COVID-related travel restrictions.^[18] Two months later, he received a call-up from Kosovo national under-21 team for a 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Andorra U21,^[19] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.^[20]

Personal life

Hoti was born in Manchester, England, to Kosovo-Albanian parents from the Hoti tribe. This makes him eligible to represent all three nations of England, Albania and Kosovo internationally.^[21]

Career statistics

As of 17 January 2022

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rochdale	2018–19[22]	EFL League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	2[a]	0	2	0
	2019–20[23]	EFL League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
Dundee United	2020–21[24]	Scottish Premiership	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2021–22[25]	Scottish Premiership	5	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	9	0
	Total		9	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	13	0
Forfar Athletic (loan)	2020–21[24]	Scottish League One	6	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	9	0
Career total			15	0	1	0	6	0	2	0	24	0

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy