From Borås to the Allsvenskan spotlight, Besfort Zeneli has emerged as one of Sweden’s most composed midfielders. A product of IF Elfsborg’s academy, the 22-year-old has quietly built a reputation as a press-resistant, tempo-setting central midfielder. With Southampton FC reportedly interested ahead of their first season under Will Still, Zeneli is starting to draw attention beyond Scandinavia. Technically sharp, tactically mature, and stylistically aligned with Still’s preferred structure, he could offer control and stability in a possession-oriented Championship setup.
Background
Born on February 1, 2003, in Sweden, Besfort Zeneli has spent his entire career at IF Elfsborg, where he joined the academy at the age of five. Known for his intelligence and calmness in possession, he steadily progressed through the youth ranks before signing a professional deal in 2022. By the 2023 season, he had become a regular starter in Elfsborg’s midfield and remained a key figure in the 2024 campaign.
Internationally, Zeneli initially represented Kosovo U21 before switching allegiance to Sweden, citing a breakdown in communication with the Kosovo federation. In March 2025, he made his senior debut for Sweden in a friendly against Luxembourg.
Though still under the radar for many European clubs, Zeneli’s profile as a deep-lying playmaker with strong press resistance and positional understanding has started to stand out — particularly for clubs that emphasize build-up and control through midfield.
Player Profile: Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Composure and Ball Retention:
Zeneli’s standout trait is his ability to receive the ball under pressure and retain possession. He constantly checks his shoulder, positions his body intelligently, and offers clean angles to center-backs and other midfielders in the build-up.
His composure allows him to play in tight spaces, escape pressure with minimal touches, and make himself available in all phases.
Passing and Progression:
He has a wide passing range, particularly with short-to-mid-range passes. Zeneli regularly breaks lines with disguised passes, switches play with lofted diagonals, and combines well with teammates in tight triangles. While not a final-third specialist, his contribution to deep progression and tempo control is consistent.
Tactical Intelligence:
Out of possession, Zeneli shows good awareness in defensive structure. He positions himself to block passing lanes, shifts laterally to support pressing traps, and makes timely decisions when stepping up. He can operate in a double pivot or central three, adapting to both zonal and man-oriented defensive roles.
Press Resistance:
One of Zeneli’s most valuable traits is his press resistance under high pressure. He manipulates angles with quick touches, uses his body to shield the ball, and rarely loses control when being closed down. In a league like the Championship — where transitional chaos is common — this composure could prove essential.
Weaknesses
Limited Final Third Output:
Despite his composure in deeper areas, Zeneli contributes little in terms of goals, assists, or incisive passes around the box. He tends to hold his position instead of making late runs into the area, and he lacks the vision or boldness to consistently break open defenses in the final third.
Physicality in Duels:
Even though Zeneli is quite tall for a central midfielder, he is not physically dominant. He often loses aerial duels, can be overpowered in shoulder-to-shoulder battles, and doesn’t impose himself in defensive transitions. Against high-tempo or physically aggressive sides, this could be a vulnerability.
Lack of Explosiveness:
While agile in tight spaces, Zeneli is not explosive when carrying the ball over longer distances. He lacks the burst to separate from opponents or drive past midfield lines on the dribble, which limits his impact in transitional or counterattacking moments.
Fit at Southampton
Under Will Still, Southampton are expected to emphasize fluid possession and ball dominance, likely in a rotational 1-3-2-5 shape. In this system, Zeneli fits naturally as one of the two holding midfielders — tasked with initiating play, protecting against counterattacks, and circulating possession under pressure.
Zeneli shares similarities with players like Flynn Downes, but with more technical precision and better control in tight areas. His ability to break pressure, combine through central corridors, and dictate rhythm from deeper positions would align with Still’s need for stabilizing midfielders.
However, Zeneli needs a more physical or mobile partner alongside him to help cover defensive ground and support transitions. Against direct Championship sides, Zeneli may also benefit from a role that allows him to drop deeper, rather than being pushed too high up the pitch.
In the long term, Zeneli could evolve into a possession anchor capable of controlling tempo and linking phases — but he will need to adapt to the higher intensity and physical demands of the English game.
Conclusion
Besfort Zeneli isn’t a headline-grabbing midfielder — but he’s a quietly effective one. His strengths lie in control, composure, and tactical balance, all traits that are essential for teams seeking to dominate possession. For Southampton, he could represent a low-cost, high-suitability signing, particularly if the club aims to build a more stable and technically coherent midfield unit under Will Still.
He still needs to develop his physical resilience and expand his impact in the final third, but with the right structure around him, Zeneli has the tools to thrive. If Southampton can integrate him gradually — perhaps as part of a midfield rotation — they may find themselves with a reliable, stylistically aligned option for their promotion push.
This scouting report is written by Harry Kruusval, a Swedish football scout and part of the 360 Scouting team.