An in-depth look into our latest recruit: Besart Topallaj.

Besart Topallaj is a Sutton United player once more, and this time he is to stay.

Having spent the 2024/25 campaign at the VBS Community Stadium on loan, the Kosovo youth international has opted to depart Bromley in favour of a permanent switch across South London, and joins up with the U’s under different management, with his time away seeing him spend time on loan at Hartlepool United.

Born in England but with Kosovan heritage, Topallaj began his career in the youth setup at Millwall, joining the club at the age of 15 where he progressed through the academy to captain the Under-21 side.

The wing-back was rewarded with his first professional contract ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, and ended the year by contributing to Millwall’s rise to second in the Southern Section of the League table, helping to stage a late fightback in the young Lions’ derby against Charlton Athletic when he glanced home Reuben Duncan’s corner with just three minutes to go to secure a 2-2 draw, before scoring his second goal in as many games with a 25-yard screamer to double the lead and secure victory over Crewe Alexandra the following week.

He continued his superb form for the Under-23’s into 2020 too, displaying his bright thinking on the flank when he combined with George Alexander and Nana Boateng as the latter struck a late winner against Coventry City, before showing plenty of goalscoring determination of his own to twice hit the woodwork in a 2-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic.

His string of impressive performances in the academy was soon recognised, and led to Bes’ maiden senior call-up when Millwall welcomed Crystal Palace to The Den in the Emirates FA Cup, being named as an unused substitute as the Lions fell to a 2-1 defeat, before receiving a recall to the first team two months later as Rowett’s side beat Huddersfield Town thanks to a Benik Afobe double; Topallaj replacing Zak Lovelace on the bench.

An invaluable experience for the young defender, he continued his hard work within the academy setup with praise coming even from Chairman, John Berylson, with Topallaj one of a host of players, including the likes of Boateng, Hayden Muller and former U’s, Isaac Olaofe, Nino Adom-Malaki, Chin Okoli, George Evans and Harry Ransom, who participated in a thriving Lions academy.

He captained the side for the first time in a 1-0 win over Peterborough United and triggered a contract extension at the end of the campaign, before seeing his contributions to the first team continue into pre-season, appearing in a win over Dartford and a draw with Ipswich Town, as well as defeats to Crystal Palace and Hammarby IF, and his inclusions soon extended into the 2022/23 Championship campaign.

He appeared twice on the bench in defeats to Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup and to Sheffield United in the league, before continuing to be a mainstay in Kevin Nugent’s successful Under 21s side, and was followed by him embarking on a one-month loan spell at Dagenham & Redbridge as Bes gained his first taste of senior action, featuring once for the Daggers in a thrilling 5-4 win over Barnet, with manager Gary Rowett citing the need for first-team minutes as the driving factor behind the loan move.

Despite only spending a brief period at Victoria Road, he later got the opportunity to further his development with a second month-long loan move, this time at Bromley, as the captain of Millwall’s successful Under-21 side continued his development at an impressive rate.

His time on loan with the Ravens got off to a perfect start as he was involved across the full game as they beat Southend United, before bagging his first goal in a 4-1 defeat to Yeovil Town at the start of 2023 with a stunning half-volley. Bes soon became a full-time member of the National League outfit though, making the decision to depart The Den permanently after seven years as he joined Bromley for an undisclosed fee just a few days later, crediting the desire to play regular first-team football as the driving factor behind leaving Millwall.

Topallaj went on to end the campaign with 24 league appearances to his name, including two goals as he notched the winner in the reverse fixture against Yeovil, before playing every minute in their failed play-off campaign losing to eventual winners Chesterfield in the semi-final after originally beating Woking in the previous round.

Nonetheless, Andy Woodman’s side soon bounced back from this heartbreak, and the Kosovan played a big part as they won promotion for the first time in their 133-year history the following year, notching a goal and five assists in the process. He subsequently made his Football League debut for the Ravens in a 1-1 draw with Colchester United and went on to appear four times for them in all competitions last term, scoring once in the Vertu Trophy against AFC Wimbledon, before spending a period away from Hayes Lane as he linked up with Sutton for the first time.

Moving to Gander Green Lane in November 2024, he quickly became a key part of the team with 11 appearances during the first half of the campaign, as well as scoring a crucial goal against Barnet on Boxing Day, capitalising on an error at the back to put Sutton in front against the Bees with 20 minutes to go, having ran the length of the pitch in order to get in the position to score.

His goal certainly epitomised what Bes is about, and after extending his loan spell until the end of the season, he went on to display his energy and versatility across a total of 24 games for Sutton, before adding another 21 appearances in the National League this term, though away from London for the first time in his career.

Making the decision to move up north, the 24-year old joined Hartlepool United on loan last summer and notched the winner in a 1-0 triumph against North-East rivals Gateshead, as well as two assists against Woking and former club Sutton as he became a regular under Simon Grayson prior to his dismissal.

However, Bes was recalled from his loan last week and his contract at Bromley mutually terminated, with the wing-back returning to a place under new management, but a familiar one nonetheless.