Jørgen Strand Larsen: The Norwegian Talent Set to Shine in the Premier League
Norway has been developing in football at a very good pace. They’ve built their foundation by focusing on developing young prospects who now play at all the big clubs around Europe. Erling Haaland has won the Premier League Golden Boot for two consecutive seasons, and Alexander Sørloth finished as the runner-up in the 2023-24 La Liga goalscoring charts, highlighting Norway’s ability to produce top-class strikers. 24-year-old Jørgen Strand Larsen could be the next striker in line.
Larsen was born on February 6, 2000, in Halden, Norway. He started playing football at a very young age and joined his local club Kvik Halden to start his football career. After catching the attention of my clubs in Norway he joined the Sarpsborg 08 Academy in 2013.
He started developing his skills as a striker in the academy and his coaches realized that he could be used in different attacking roles. His natural goalscoring ability and versatility made him stand out and progress through the ranks of Sarpsborg. He was regarded as one of the brightest football prospects in Norway.
Larsen made his senior debut for Sarpsborg 08 in 2017 but only featured in 3 matches for a total time of 27 minutes. His coaches were convinced and gave him more game time in the 2018 season. He played 6 matches in the Eliteserien and 4 matches in the Europa League gaining valuable minutes under his belt and getting a feel of senior football.
“Jørgen has always shown tremendous potential. His work ethic and determination are what set him apart. He has a bright future ahead of him.” said Geir Bakke, former Sarpsborg 08 coach.
In the 2019 Eliteserien season, he played 23 matches and contributed 4 goals and 3 assists. He created 14 chances and helped defensively by winning 8 tackles, 99 duels, 45 aerial duels and completing 39 recoveries.
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“Jørgen’s 2019 season has been very promising. His development and impact at Sarpsborg 08 have not gone unnoticed, and he is certainly on our radar for future national team selections.” said Ståle Solbakken, the Norwegian National Team Coach. Larsen had already represented Norway at the youth level. This quote from the manager indicated that he could be integrated into the senior squad soon.
In the 2020 season, Larsen contributed 2 goals and 3 assists in 16 games. He created 16 chances, completed 12 dribbles and won 2 penalties for the team. In the January transfer window, AC Milan were interested in signing him on a loan deal and Sarpsborg agreed to it. After spending 6 months in Italy training with a top club in AC Milan, Larsen returned to Sarpsborg. He didn’t make an appearance for the first team of Milan but experienced the standards of top tier football.
In the summer of 2020, Larsen secured a permanent transfer to FC Groningen shortly after his return from the loan spell. He had a good first season at the Eredivisie scoring 9 goals and providing 5 assists in 30 matches. He created 23 chances, completed 13 dribbles and had 115 touches in the opponent’s box. Defensively Larsen won 184 duels, 128 aerial duels and regained possession 16 times in the final third.
Larsen displayed clinical finishing throughout the season. In a 3-1 win against Fortuna Sittard, he scored an early goal by making a run from the blindside of the defender to the center of the box and tapping the ball into the bottom left corner. He doubled his tally in the 28th minute scoring another tap-in from a good cross. He scored multiple braces and had a few matches in the season where he contributed a goal and an assist.
The 2021-22 season was one of his best seasons. Larsen scored 14 goals and contributed 2 assists in 32 matches. He created 19 chances and completed 21 dribbles. He won 121 duels, 66 aerial duels and completed 57 recoveries. One of the best performances of his season came in a 2-1 win against Go Ahead Eagles.
In the fourth minute of the game, Laros Duarte received the ball in midfield and made a good progressive run. He picked out Bjorn Meijer in the right flank who then crossed the ball into the box. Larsen met the cross and tapped the ball into the goal to give FC Groningen an early lead.
At the hour-mark, Giannis-Fivos Botos scored a great header to equalize the score from a great move starting from the back. FC Groningen reinstated their lead within ten minutes of the equalizer. Bart van Hintum played a good long ball to find Larsen in the edge of the opponent’s box. Larsen used great chest control to bring the ball down and then he slotted it into the bottom left corner to win the game.
“Jørgen has been phenomenal this season. His ability to find the back of the net and his work ethic on the pitch have been crucial for our success. He’s shown that he can be a top striker in the Eredivisie,” said Danny Buijs, FC Groningen Coach.
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In the summer of 2022, Celta Vigo signed Larsen for €11 million. The club saw him as a key addition to bolster their attacking options and contribute to their ambitions in La Liga. He was integrated into the squad quickly and started 20 matches in his first LaLiga season.
He contributed 4 goals and 4 assists and adjusted to the new environment very well. Playing in a front 2 with the Spanish veteran Iago Aspas helped him learn and improve. With 1 goal and 2 assists in just 3 games, Larsen was one of the best players for Celta in the Copa del Rey. He is a natural goalscorer and his ability to get to the right place at the right time is great.
Using his physique and good control Larsen is great at scoring and creating in tight spaces in the box. His ability to time runs and get in behind or in between opposition’s center backs is the sign of a great poacher. Larsen is comfortable in scoring from anywhere in and around the box, making him a constant threat. He has a great future and if he’s given the right conditions he could develop into one of the best poachers in the world.
With 13 goals and 3 assists, Larsen excelled in the Spanish-top-flight, boasting goals coming from headers, both feet and in the form of shots, backheels and flicks. He completed 29 dribbles, created 24 chances and had 173 touches in the opponent’s box. He ranked high in terms of duels, tackles, blocks and recoveries. This indicates that he’s a great asset for the team in all areas.
Wolves have completed the signing of Larsen for a €30 million package from Celta Vigo in the summer of 2023-24. With good crossers of the ball in Rayan Aït-Nouri and Pedro Neto Larsen is signed for the sole purpose of putting the ball in the back of the net.
Larsen expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “It’s an amazing day. It’s one of the best days in my life. I’m really happy to be here” and his new manager Gary O’Neil highlighted the importance of Larsen’s addition to the squad, describing him as Wolves’ top target for the striker position. He praised Larsen’s character and work ethic, noting, “He’s shown that he can score goals, and puts a lot of work and running in for the rest of the team.”
Jørgen Strand Larsen will look to impress in his first Premier League season and will have the added pressure of being from the same nation as Erling Haaland. Wolves will aim to finish higher in the league and he could be an important piece in the puzzle for them.
With players like Alexander Isak, Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins showing that it is possible to score a good amount of goals despite not being in top teams every striker in the league will aim to replicate them. Larsen has the potential to be a world-class striker and the transfer to Wolves gives him a perfect opportunity to showcase himself in the most-watched league on the planet.
By: @TSpec1al
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Jack Thomas – WWFC