{{Short description|Kosovan footballer (born 1994}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Mevlan Zeka |image = |caption = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|5|28|df=y}} |birth_place = Gjakova, FR Yugoslavia |height = 1.82 m |position = Forward |currentclub = Malisheva |clubnumber = 23 |years1 = {{0|0000}}–2015 |clubs1 = Vëllaznimi |caps1 =<!-- Caps during this period are unclear; Transfermarkt is not reliable --> |goals1 =<!-- Goals during this period are unclear; Transfermarkt is not reliable --> |years2 = 2015–2017 |clubs2 = Feronikeli |caps2 =<!-- Caps during this period are unclear; Transfermarkt is not reliable --> |goals2 =<!-- Goals during this period are unclear; Transfermarkt is not reliable --> |years3 = 2017–2018 |clubs3 = Liria Prizren |caps3 =<!-- Caps during this period are unclear; Transfermarkt is not reliable --> |goals3 =<!-- Goals during this period are unclear; Transfermarkt is not reliable --> |years4 = 2018–2020 |clubs4 = Feronikeli |caps4 = 33 |goals4 = 11 |years5 = 2020–2022 |clubs5 = Ballkani |caps5 = 41 |goals5 = 10 |years6 = 2022–2023 |clubs6 = Gjilani |caps6 = 34 |goals6 = 10 |years7 = 2023–2025 |clubs7 = Suhareka |caps7 = +35<!-- Only Superleague caps --> |goals7 = +22<!-- Only Superleague goals --> |years8 = 2025 |clubs8 = UTA Arad |caps8 = 0 |goals8 = 0 |years9 = 2025– |clubs9 = Malisheva |caps9 = 8 |goals9 = 1 |club-update = 19 February 2026 }} '''Mevlan Zeka''' (born 28 May 1994) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Kosovo Superleague club Malisheva.
==Club career== ===Early career=== Zeka started his career with Kosovan side Vëllaznimi Gjakovë. In 2015, he signed for Kosovan side Feronikeli, where for two seasons (2014–15 and 2015–16 season) he helped the club win the league title. Two years later, he signed for Kosovan side Liria Prizren,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koha.net/en/sport/mevlan-zeka-nenshkruan-me-lirine|title=Mevlan Zeka signed with Liria|publisher=Koha Ditore|date=30 June 2017}}</ref> where he made eleven league appearances and scored three goals. Following his stint there, he returned to Kosovan side Feronikeli in 2018,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ekonomiaonline.com/mevlan-zeka-rikthehet-tek-feronikeli/|title=Mevlan Zeka rikthehet tek Feronikeli|trans-title=Mevlan Zeka returns to Feronikeli|language=Albanian|website=EkonomiaOnline.com|date=30 May 2018}}</ref> where he made thirty-three league appearances and scored eleven goals and helped the club win again the league title and the cup.
During the summer of 2020, he signed for Kosovan side Ballkani,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/zyrtare-mevlan-zeka-e-kenan-haxhihamza-bashkohen-ballkanit/|title=Official: Mevlan Zeka and Kenan Haxhihamza joins Ballkani|language=Albanian|publisher=Telegrafi|date=1 August 2020}}</ref> where he made forty-one league appearances and scored ten goals and helped the club win the league title. Two years later, he signed for Kosovan side Gjilani,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/zyrtare-mevlan-zeka-bashkohet-gjilanit/|title=Official: Mevlan Zeka joins Gjilani|language=Albanian|publisher=Telegrafi|date=22 June 2022}}</ref> where he made thirty-four league appearances and scored ten goals. Subsequently, he signed for Kosovan side Suhareka in 2023,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/zyrtare-mevlan-zeka-dhe-yll-hoxha-bashkohen-suharekes/|title=Official: Mevlan Zeka and Yll Hoxha joins Suhareka|language=Albanian|publisher=Telegrafi|date=3 August 2023}}</ref> helping the club achieve promotion from the second tier to the top flight.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/ferizaj-dhe-suhareka-sigurojne-inkuadrimin-ne-superligen-e-kosoves/|title=Ferizaj and Suhareka secure inclusion in the Kosovo Superleague|language=Albanian|publisher=Telegrafi|date=4 May 2024}}</ref>
===UTA Arad=== On 22 June 2025, Zeka signed a two-year contract with Romanian Liga I club UTA Arad,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uta-arad.ro/stiri/zeka-intareste-atacul|title=Zeka întărește atacul!|trans-title=Zeka strengthens the attack!|language=German|publisher=FC UTA Arad|date=22 June 2025}}</ref> Ten days after joining the team during the preparatory session in Slovenia, he returned to Kosovo for personal reasons. Although initially expected to be a short absence, he did not return due to his wife's illness. As a result, UTA Arad considered taking the case to the FIFA tribunal, a process the player stated he was prepared to face.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koha.net/en/sport/zeka-i-gatshem-te-perballet-me-uta-aradin-ne-fifa-vendosa-ta-lija-familjen-ne-vend-te-pare|title=Zeka ready to face UTA Arad in FIFA: I decided to put my family first|publisher=Koha Ditore|date=13 August 2025}}</ref>
===Malisheva=== In August 2025, Zeka began training and later joined the Kosovo Superleague club Malisheva.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/ekskluzive-mevlan-zeka-ka-gjetur-strehe-te-malisheva-ka-bisedime-uta-arad-per-marreveshje-transferimi/|title=Exclusive/Mevlan Zeka has found shelter in Malisheva – there are talks with UTA Arad about a transfer agreement|language=Albanian|publisher=Telegrafi|date=12 August 2025}}</ref> His debut with Malisheva came on 31 August against Dukagjini after coming on as a substitute.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koha.net/en/futboll/mevlan-zeka-fillon-me-ndeshje-te-malisheva|title=Mevlan Zeka starts with matches in Malisheva|publisher=Koha Ditore|date=31 August 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Zeka was born on 28 May 1994 in Gjakova, Kosovo and is a native of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/Melvan-Zeka%2C-the-striker-who-scores-non-stop-in-both-the-Super-League-and-the-First-League/|title=Melvan Zeka, the striker who scores non-stop in both the Super League and the First League|language=en|publisher=Telegrafi|date=2 January 2025|access-date=14 July 2025}}</ref> Growing up, he attended AAB University in Kosovo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.botasot.info/sporti/338314/mevlan-zeka-nje-tjeter-shprese-e-futbollit-ne-kosove/|title=Mevlan Zeka, një tjetër shpresë e futbollit në Kosovë|trans-title=Mevlan Zeka, another hope for football in Kosovo|publisher=Bota Sot|date=|access-date=14 July 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Sports links}}
{{Football Superleague of Kosovo top scorers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeka, Mevlan}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Gjakova Category:Kosovan men's footballers Category:Kosovan expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:Men's association football forwards Category:KF Vëllaznimi Gjakovë players Category:FC Feronikeli 74 players Category:KF Liria Prizren players Category:FC Ballkani players Category:SC Gjilani players Category:KF Malisheva players Category:Football Superleague of Kosovo players Category:FC UTA Arad players