Kristian Pedersen
{{short description|Danish footballer (born 1994)}}
{{Similar names|Christian Pedersen (disambiguation){{!}}Christian Pedersen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kristian Pedersen
| image = Kristian Pedersen (34059341572).jpg
| upright =
| caption = Pedersen with Union Berlin in 2016
| full_name = Kristian Majdahl Pedersen{{cite news |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/1-fc-union-berlin-kristian-pedersens-unmoegliche-karriere/19411148.html |title=Kristian Pedersens unmögliche Karriere |trans-title=Kristian Pedersen's impossible career |work=Der Tagesspiegel |date=19 February 2017 |access-date=8 October 2020 |language=de}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|8|4}}
| birth_place = Ringsted, Denmark
| height = 1.89 m
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Swansea City
| clubnumber = 3
| years1 =
| clubs1 = Benløse IF
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = {{0|0000}}–2014
| clubs2 = Ringsted IF
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 2014–2016
| clubs3 = HB Køge
| caps3 = 58
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2016–2018
| clubs4 = Union Berlin
| caps4 = 61
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2018–2022
| clubs5 = Birmingham City
| caps5 = 155
| goals5 = 9
| years6 = 2022–2023
| clubs6 = 1. FC Köln
| caps6 = 6
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2023–
| clubs7 = Swansea City
| caps7 = 4
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2024
| clubs8 = → Sheffield Wednesday (loan)
| caps8 = 4
| goals8 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2016
| nationalteam1 = Denmark U21
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2020
| nationalteam2 = Denmark
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 20:27, 2 September 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Kristian Majdahl Pedersen (born 4 August 1994) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|SwanseaC}} club Swansea City and the Denmark national team. He plays predominantly at left back but can also play at centre back.
He has represented his country at under-21 level,{{cite web|author1=Phil Hay|title=Whites Want Danish Full Back Kristian Pedersen|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/championship-rumour-mill-leeds-united-keeping-tabs-on-danish-defender-1-9155421|website=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=9 May 2018}} and made his senior debut in 2020.
Club career
Pedersen started his early career at Benløse IF, before moving to fourth division side Ringsted IF.
=HB Køge=
Pedersen signed for HB Køge on 24 July 2014 under head coach Henrik Pedersen. His debut for HB Køge came on 25 July 2014 when he came on as a substitute with the score at 1–1 on the first day of the first division in the away game at Skive IK in the 77th minute. On 19 April 2015, he scored his first goal for HBK against AB in a 3–0 win.
In the 2015–16 winter break he joined German Bundesliga side Borussia Moenchengladbach on trial but a move did not materialise. In the second half he came for HB Køge to twelve games in the Danish second division.
Pedersen went on to play on more than 50 occasions for the club, scoring twice in total, against AB and Skive.
=Union Berlin=
Following two seasons at Køge, Pedersen signed for 2. Bundesliga side Union Berlin in 2016. on a three-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/1-fc-union-berlin-kristian-pedersens-unmoegliche-karriere/19411148.html|title=Kristian Pedersens unmögliche Karriere|first=Sebastian|last=Stier|work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |date=19 February 2017|publisher=|via=Tagesspiegel}} He made his debut for Union Berlin on 6 August 2016 against VfL Bochum in a 2–1 defeat.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=92667&season_id=149|title=Kristian Pedersen – Football Stats – Birmingham City – Season 2016/2017 – Soccer Base|website=www.soccerbase.com}} 30 September 2016, Pedersen received a red card against 1. FC Nürnberg.
He scored his first goal for Union Berlin on 24 February 2018, in a 2–1 win against SV Sandhausen.
=Birmingham City=
Pedersen signed a four-year contract with English Championship (second-tier) club Birmingham City on 25 June 2018; the fee was undisclosed.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44442913 |title=Kristian Pedersen: Birmingham City boss Garry Monk makes his first signing |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2018 |accessdate=1 July 2018}} However, Birmingham's unaddressed Financial Fair Play issues left the English Football League (EFL) "exceptionally disappointed" that the club had nevertheless proceeded with a purchase, and they refused to register him. Two days before the season was due to start, and "after consideration of the legal position as between the Club, Player and the EFL", an agreement was reached such that Pedersen's registration was allowed.{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2018/august/birmingham-city-profitability-and-sustainability/ |title=Birmingham City: Profitability and Sustainability |publisher=English Football League |date=2 August 2018 |accessdate=5 August 2018}} He made his debut on the opening day, starting at left back in a 2–2 draw at home to Norwich City.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-norwich-maghoma-ratings-14991337 |title=Mags is magic but there wasn't enough support – How Birmingham City rated |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=5 August 2018 |accessdate=5 August 2018}}
= 1. FC Köln=
In July 2022, Pedersen joined 1. FC Köln on a free transfer.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kicker.de/koeln-verpflichtet-abwehrspieler-pedersen-906069/artikel |title=Köln verpflichtet Abwehrspieler Pedersen |website=kicker |language=de}}
= Swansea City =
Pedersen signed a two-year contract with Championship club Swansea City on 1 September 2023; the fee was undisclosed.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/swansea-city-complete-first-deadline-27638659 |title=Swansea City complete first deadline day signing as Kristian Pedersen reveals why he made Swans move |first=Tom |last=Coleman |website=Wales Online |date=1 September 2023 |access-date=2 February 2024}}
Having played little, in part because of injury, Pedersen joined divisional rivals Sheffield Wednesday on 1 February 2024 on loan for the remainder of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/swansea-city-transfer-deadline-day-28546652 |title=Swansea City transfer deadline day as it happened: Swans complete three signings as Kristian Pedersen joins Sheffield Wednesday |first=Tom |last=Coleman |website=Wales Online |date=2 February 2024 |access-date=2 February 2024}} He made his debut that weekend starting in the 4–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town.{{cite news |url=https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/huddersfield-v-owls-team-news/|title=Pedersen starts against Huddersfield|website=Sheffield Wednesday FC |date=3 February 2024 |access-date=3 February 2024}} Pedersen would also struggle for game time at Sheffield Wednesday, although it was again partly because of injury.{{Cite news |first=Joe |last=Crann |url=https://thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/he-will-stay-sheffield-wednesday-boss-confirms-decision-after-defender-setback-4521518?r=7994 |title= ‘He will stay’ – Sheffield Wednesday boss confirms decision after defender setback |publisher=The Star |date=16 February 2024 |access-date=16 May 2025}} He made just four appearances during his time on loan, with his only start having come during his debut against Huddersfield.
Upon returning to Swansea City, Pedersen would make just two more appearances for the club in the following season. Both of these would come in August and in the EFL Cup. Although Pedersen had already struggled to dislodge Ben Cabango and Harry Darling in Swansea's defence, this would be another season which was heavily affected by injuries. He faced two significant spells on the sidelines; the first being a hamstring injury from September until late October, and the second having come from hamstring surgery which kept him out of action from December until late April.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c70j02ld7e0o |title=Mixed injury news as Cullen returns |publisher= British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=16 May 2025 |date=13 September 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/kristian-pedersen-contention-oxford-clash |title=Kristian Pedersen in contention for Oxford clash |website=www.swanseacity.com |language=en |access-date=16 May 2025 |date=31 October 2024}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1kewppemx2o |title=Ginnelly and Parker make progress, but Pedersen sidelined |publisher= British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=16 May 2025 |date=19 December 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/preview-millwall-v-swansea-city-4 |title=Preview
Pedersen was released by Swansea at the end of the 2024-25 season, having made seven appearances in all competitions.{{cite news |title=Sheehan eyes signings as five Swansea players depart |url=https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y6np9yk3ko |access-date=15 May 2025 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation | date= 3 May 2025}}
International career
Pedersen has represented Denmark U-21's, making his debut in 2016 against Ukraine.
Pedersen made his senior international debut on 7 October 2020 in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54455459 |title=Denmark v Faroe Islands |website=BBC Sport |date=7 October 2020 |accessdate=7 October 2020}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 31 August 2024}}
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{WorldFootball.net}}
{{Swansea City A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pedersen, Kristian}}
Category:Sportspeople from Ringsted
Category:Footballers from Region Zealand
Category:Danish men's footballers
Category:Denmark men's international footballers
Category:Denmark men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Denmark men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:1. FC Union Berlin players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players
Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Wales
Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in England