Jesper Karlsson
{{short description|Swedish footballer (born 1998)}}
{{about|a Swedish footballer|Finnish footballer|Jesper Karlsson (footballer, born 2000)|the Swedish politician|Jesper Skalberg Karlsson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jesper Karlsson
| image = Jesper Karlsson (Sweden vs Moldova, 12 October 2023).jpg
| upright = 0.9
| caption = Karlsson playing for Sweden in 2023
| full_name = Karl Jesper Karlsson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|07|25}}
| birth_place = Falkenberg, Sweden
| position = Attacking midfielder, left winger
| currentclub = Lecce (on loan from Bologna)
| clubnumber = 37
| youthyears1 = 2003–2014
| youthclubs1 = IF Böljan
| youthyears2 = 2015
| youthclubs2 = Falkenbergs FF
| years1 = 2013–2014
| clubs1 = IF Böljan
| caps1 = 22
| goals1 = 12
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = Falkenbergs FF
| caps2 = 26
| goals2 = 7
| years3 = 2017–2020
| clubs3 = IF Elfsborg
| caps3 = 83
| goals3 = 19
| years4 = 2020–2023
| clubs4 = AZ
| caps4 = 89
| goals4 = 35
| years5 = 2023–
| clubs5 = Bologna
| caps5 = 14
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2025–
| clubs6 = → Lecce (loan)
| caps6 = 13
| goals6 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2015–2017
| nationalteam1 = Sweden U19
| nationalcaps1 = 15
| nationalgoals1 = 6
| nationalyears2 = 2020
| nationalteam2 = Sweden U21
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 6
| nationalyears3 = 2020–
| nationalteam3 = Sweden
| nationalcaps3 = 14
| nationalgoals3 = 5
| club-update = 30 May 2025
| nationalteam-update = 19:36, 12 October 2023 (UTC)
}}
Karl Jesper Karlsson (born 25 July 1998) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for {{Italian football updater|Lecce}} club Lecce on loan from Bologna, and the Sweden national team.
Club career
= Early career =
Karlsson started playing in IF Böljan from the age of four. At the age of 14, he received his first-team debut for the club in Division 4.{{cite news|last1=Velagic|first1=Johan|title=FD SERIE – DEL 3: Jesper Karlsson|url=http://www.fotbolldirekt.se/talangbloggen/2016/02/17/fd-serie-del-3-jesper-karlsson/|access-date=29 September 2016|publisher=www.fotbolldirekt.se|language=sv-SE}} Before the 2015 season, he moved to Falkenbergs FF, and he was offered a first-team contract in the autumn.{{cite news|title=FFF erbjuder Jesper Karlsson kontrakt|url=http://www.hn.se/sport/fff/fff-erbjuder-jesper-karlsson-kontrakt-1.1866076|access-date=29 September 2016}} In November 2015, Karlsson signed a first team contract that extends over the season 2018 with Falkenberg FF.{{cite news|title=Jesper Karlsson har skrivit på|url=http://www.falkenbergsff.se/detailarticle.aspx?id=541|access-date=29 September 2016|publisher=www.falkenbergsff.se|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605053819/http://www.falkenbergsff.se/detailarticle.aspx?id=541|archive-date=5 June 2016|url-status=dead}} Before he signed the contract, he had also served and trained with English Brighton & Hove Albion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hn.se/sport/fff/karlsson-valde-elfsborg-f%C3%B6re-utl%C3%A4ndska-klubbar-1.4010074|title=Karlsson valde Elfsborg före utländska klubbar|access-date=11 September 2020|website=www.hn.se|date=2 December 2016}}
= Falkenbergs FF =
The premiere of the headlines in 2016 were about Karlsson making his Allsvenskan debut. In the 79th minute he was replaced in instead of Akseli Pelvas, in the match Falkenbergs FF lost 2–0 to IFK Göteborg.{{cite news|title=Jesper om sin debut: "En dröm"|url=http://hn.se/sport/fotboll/fff/1.4850006-jesper-om-sin-debut-en-drom-|access-date=29 September 2016|publisher=Hallands Nyheter|date=3 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406025633/http://hn.se/sport/fotboll/fff/1.4850006-jesper-om-sin-debut-en-drom-|archive-date=6 April 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=www.whoscored.com/Matches/1037570/Live|url=https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1037570/Live|website=www.whoscored.com|access-date=29 September 2016}} On 17 July 2016, Karlsson scored his first two Allsvenskan goals in a 3–3 win against Hammarby IF.{{Cite news|last=P4|first=Nyheter|date=18 July 2016|title=17-åring gjorde sina första allsvenska mål för Falkenberg|language=sv|work=Sveriges Radio|url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6477032|access-date=11 September 2020}} In total, he scored seven goals and made two assists during the 2016 season.{{cite news|last1=Otterhall|first1=Emanuel|date=17 July 2016|title=Karlsson: "Jag har väntat på det länge"|publisher=www.expressen.se|url=http://www.expressen.se/gt/sport/karlsson-jag-har-vantat-pa-det-lange/|access-date=29 September 2016}}
= IF Elfsborg =
Karlsson transferred from Falkenbergs FF to Swedish top flight IF Elfsborg on 2 December 2016 for a fee of €450,000.
= AZ =
On 11 September 2020, Karlsson signed a five-year contract with Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar. However, the teams agreed that he stayed at Elfsborg until 28 September.{{Cite web|date=11 September 2020|title=Karlsson lämnar Elfsborg – klar för AZ Alkmaar|url=https://www.svt.se/sport/fotboll/karlsson-lamnar-elfsborg-klar-for-az-alkmaar|access-date=29 October 2020|website=SVT Sport|language=sv}}{{cite web|title=IF ELFSBORG OCH AZ ALKMAAR ÖVERENS OM EN ÖVERGÅNG FÖR JESPER KARLSSON|url=https://elfsborg.se/2020/09/11/if-elfsborg-och-az-alkmaar-overens-om-en-overgang-for-jesper-karlsson/|website=elfsborg.se|date=11 September 2020|access-date=22 September 2020}} After arriving in Alkmaar, he made his debut on 4 October 2020 in a 4–4 draw against Sparta Rotterdam, in which he provided two assists.{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Sebastian |title=Jesper Karlssons succédebut - två framspelningar på 14 minuter |url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/nederlanderna/jesper-karlssons-succedebut---tva-framspelningar-pa-14-minuter/ |access-date=19 November 2020 |work=fotbollskanalen |date=4 October 2020 |language=sv}}
= Bologna =
On 23 August 2023, it was announced that Karlsson had joined Serie A club Bologna.{{cite web|title=Jesper Karlsson joins the Rossoblù|url=https://www.bolognafc.it/en/jesper-karlsson-joins-the-rossoblu/|website=bolognafc.it|date=23 August 2023|access-date=24 August 2023}} On 4 January 2025, Karlsson moved on loan to Lecce for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|publisher=US Lecce|url=https://www.uslecce.it/news/370136223238/karlsson-in-giallorosso|title=Karlsson in giallorosso|trans-title=Karlsson in yellow and red|date=4 January 2025|access-date=8 January 2025|language=it}}
International career
In September 2015, Karlsson made his debut in the Sweden national under-19. He has also represented the Sweden U21 team.{{Cite web |title=Jesper Karlsson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll |url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/jesper-karlsson/11c496b6-776a-4e75-ae47-0dc351039535 |access-date=2 October 2020 |website=www.svenskfotboll.se. |language=sv |archive-date=20 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020165244/https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/jesper-karlsson/11c496b6-776a-4e75-ae47-0dc351039535/ |url-status=dead }}
He made his full international debut for Sweden on 9 January 2020 in a friendly game against Moldova.
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 25 May 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falkenbergs FF
|2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/jesper-karlsson/11c496b6-776a-4e75-ae47-0dc351039535/|title = Jesper Karlsson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll}} |26 | 7 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 7 | ||
| rowspan="5"|IF Elfsborg
|2017 |Allsvenskan |14 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2018
|Allsvenskan |22 | 0 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2019
|Allsvenskan |25 | 8 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 9 | ||
| 2020
|Allsvenskan |22 | 11 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 12 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!83 | 19 | 12 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 95 | 23 | |
| rowspan="5"|AZ
|2020–21{{cite web |title=Jesper Karlsson » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/jesper-karlsson_2/2/ |website=WorldFootball.net |access-date=3 October 2022}} |32 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 39 | 12 | |
| 2021–22
|Eredivisie |34 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 9{{efn|One appearance in UEFA Europa League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 1 | 4{{efn|Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs}} | 2 | 51 | 21 |
| 2022–23
|Eredivisie |23 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 8{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 2 | colspan="2"|– | 33 | 13 | |
| 2023–24
|Eredivisie |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=UECL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!89 | 35 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 124 | 46 |
| rowspan="3"|Bologna
|7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25
|Serie A |7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 7 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Lecce (loan)
|Serie A |13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 13 | 1 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!225 | 63 | 23 | 9 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 276 | 78 |
{{notelist}}
= International =
{{Updated|match played 12 October 2023}}{{cite web|title=Jesper Karlsson|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/jesper-karlsson/11c496b6-776a-4e75-ae47-0dc351039535/|website=Svensk Fotboll}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Sweden
|2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 6 | 5 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 14 | 5 |
:Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Karlsson goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Jesper Karlsson |
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |
|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1
| 27 March 2023 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | {{fb|AZE}} | style="text-align:center"|4–0 | style="text-align:center"| 5–0 |
| style="text-align:center"|2
| rowspan="2"|16 June 2023 | rowspan="2"|Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | rowspan="2"|{{fb|NZL}} | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–1 | rowspan="2"|Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|3
| style="text-align:center"|3–1 |
| style="text-align:center"|4
| rowspan="2"|12 October 2023 | rowspan="2"|Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | rowspan="2"|{{fb|MDA}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–1 | rowspan="2"|Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|5
| style="text-align:center"|3–1 |
Honours
Individual
- Allsvenskan Striker of the Year: 2020{{cite web |title=Allsvenskans Stora Pris |url=https://www.allsvenskan.se/allsvenskans-stora-pris |access-date=10 January 2023 |publisher=Allsvenskan |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501015842/https://www.allsvenskan.se/allsvenskans-stora-pris |url-status=dead }}
- Eredivisie Player of the Month: December 2021{{cite news|url=https://eredivisie.eu/news/ajax-still-provides-most-players-for-the-team-of-the-month/|title=Ajax still provides most players for team of the month|date=14 January 2022|publisher=Eredivisie}}
- Eredivisie Team of the Month: December 2021, March 2022,{{cite news|url=https://eredivisie.eu/news/fc-twente-is-the-main-provider-for-the-eredivisie-team-of-the-month/|title=FC Twente is the main provider for the Eredivisie team of the month|date=1 April 2022|publisher=Eredivisie}} March 2023{{cite news|url=https://eredivisie.nl/nieuws/sparta-en-az-domineren-eredivisie-elftal-van-de-maand-in-maart/|title=Sparta and AZ dominate Eredivisie team of the month in march|date=31 March 2023|access-date=8 April 2023|publisher=Eredivisie}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bolognafc.it/player/jesper-karlsson/ Profile] at the Bologna FC 1909 website
- {{SvFF player|id=11c496b6-776a-4e75-ae47-0dc351039535|fid=627631|pid=8705}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{U.S. Lecce squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karlsson, Jesper}}
Category:Footballers from Falkenberg
Category:Swedish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Sweden men's international footballers
Category:Sweden men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Sweden men's youth international footballers
Category:Falkenbergs FF players
Category:Bologna FC 1909 players
Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Italy