Erdal Rakip (Macedonian: Ердал Ракип; Albanian: Erdal Rakipi; born 13 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for I liga club Miedź Legnica. Born in Sweden, he plays for the North Macedonia national team.

Club career

Malmö FF

Rakip made his Allsvenskan debut for Malmö FF in an away fixture against IF Brommapojkarna at Grimsta IP on 1 June 2013. On 17 June 2013, Rakip signed a two and a half year youth contract with Malmö FF until the end of the 2015 season. On 15 July 2014 Rakip signed a first team contract with Malmö FF for three and a half additional years at the club. The 2014 season saw more playing time for Rakip as he made 15 appearances for the club. He also participated in play during the group stage of the 2014–15 and 2015–16 UEFA Champions League.

Benfica

After his contract with Malmö expired at the end of the 2017 Swedish season, Rakip signed for Portuguese champions Benfica.

Loan to Crystal Palace

Before playing any games for them, he was loaned out for the rest of the 2017–18 season to English club Crystal Palace. Rakip ultimately did not end up playing in any games, but was an unused substitute for Crystal Palace in Premier League fixtures against Everton, Tottenham and Manchester United.

Return to Malmö FF

On 11 February 2019, without having played any match for Benfica, Malmö FF announced Rakip's return to the Swedish club, reportedly for a €500,000 transfer fee, with Benfica being entitled to fifty per cent of a future transfer.

Antalyaspor

On 20 January 2023, Rakip signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Antalyaspor in Turkey.

Miedź Legnica

On 26 January 2026, Rakip joined Polish second division side Miedź Legnica on a free transfer.

International career

Rakip entered his first international tournament at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates where Sweden won a bronze medal, he scored his first international goal against Honduras in the quarter final. Rakip played six out of seven matches for Sweden during the tournament and scored one goal, he missed the first group stage match against Iraq due to a previous suspension.

Rakip holds the citizenship of Sweden and North Macedonia and is of Turkish and Albanian descent. He debuted with the North Macedonia national team in a 4–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification win over Liechtenstein on 8 October 2021.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Malmö FF2013Allsvenskan10101030
2014Allsvenskan1503040220
2015Allsvenskan20120100321
2016Allsvenskan27260332
2017Allsvenskan2781120309
Total901113117012012
Benfica2017–18Primeira Liga00000000
Crystal Palace (loan)2017–18Premier League000000
Malmö FF2019Allsvenskan1403044214
2020Allsvenskan2614040341
2021Allsvenskan25240140432
2022Allsvenskan25172100423
Total90418232414010
Antalyaspor2022–23Süper Lig150150
2023–24Süper Lig28020300
2024–25Süper Lig27130301
Total70150751
Career total2501636349433523

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
North Macedonia
202120
Total20

Honours

Malmö FF

Sweden U17

External links