Leo Hjelde

Norwegian footballer (born 2003) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leo Fuhr Hjelde (born 26 August 2003) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a left-back or centre-back for EFL Championship club Sunderland. He is a Norway under-21 international.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Leo Hjelde
Personal information
Full name Leo Fuhr Hjelde[1]
Date of birth (2003-08-26) 26 August 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Left-back, centre-back[3]
Team information
Current team
Sunderland
Number 33
Youth career
–2017 Trygg/Lade
2018–2019 Rosenborg
2019–2021 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Celtic 0 (0)
2021Ross County (loan) 11 (1)
2021–2024 Leeds United 3 (0)
2023Rotherham United (loan) 13 (0)
2024– Sunderland 23 (0)
International career
2019 Norway U16 10 (0)
2019–2020 Norway U17 6 (0)
2021 Norway U18 3 (1)
2021 Norway U19 3 (0)
2021– Norway U21 21 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 April 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024
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Early life

Hjelde is the son of former Nottingham Forest and Rosenborg defender Jon Olav Hjelde, who was playing for South Korean K League club Busan I'cons when Leo was born in England.[4] Jon Olav briefly returned to England to witness Leo's birth, after which the family moved to South Korea for several months to live with Jon Olav in Busan. They returned to England in mid-2004, and subsequently moved to Norway after Jon Olav's two-year spell at Mansfield Town ended in 2007.[5]

Club career

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Perspective

Celtic

On 29 July 2019, Hjelde signed a professional contract with Scottish Premiership club Celtic at 15 years old; he was brought straight into the reserve squad.[6][7]

On 22 January 2021, Hjelde signed for Premiership side Ross County on loan for the remainder of the season.[8] He made his league debut the following day against Rangers in a 5–0 defeat.[9] He scored his first professional goal on 6 March 2021 in a 3–2 win against Kilmarnock.[10] His performances on loan led to Ross County boss John Hughes likening the young defender to former Celtic player Virgil van Dijk.[11]

Leeds United

On 27 August 2021, Hjelde signed for Leeds United for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year deal at Elland Road.

Hjelde made his senior debut for Leeds United on 9 January 2022 in the starting line-up in 2–0 FA Cup third round defeat to West Ham United.[12] He made his Premier League debut the following week, also at West Ham, when he came on as a first-half replacement for Junior Firpo in Leeds' 3–2 win, becoming the youngest Norwegian to play in the Premier League.[13][14][4]

On 12 January 2023, Hjelde joined EFL Championship side Rotherham United on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[15]

Sunderland

On 30 Jan 2024 Hjelde joined Sunderland on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[16]

His first game for Sunderland was an EFL Championship fixture against Middlesbrough, which he played 90 minutes in, with the game ending 1–1.

Career statistics

As of match played 8 April 2025[17]
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 2020–21[18] Scottish Premiership 0000000000
2021–22[18] 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Ross County (loan) 2020–21[18] Scottish Premiership 1111000121
Leeds United 2021–22 Premier League 2010001[c]040
2022–23 0000201[c]030
2023–24 Championship 1000000010
Total 3010202080
Rotherham United (loan) 2022–23 Championship 130130
Sunderland 2023–24 Championship 110110
2024–25 Championship 120101000140
Total 230101000250
Career total 501303020581
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  1. Includes EFL Cup
  2. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

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