Our first signing of the January transfer window Leo Hjelde has arrived on Wearside.
Get to know our new Norwegian defender as we go in-focus into his career:
- Born as Leo Fuhr Hjelde, he was born in Nottingham on 26 August 2003.
- The 20-year-old stands at six foot two inches tall and is comfortable playing at centre-back and left-back.
- His youth career began with Norwegian side Trygg/Lade before making the move to Rosenborg to continue his development in their academy.
- In 2019, Celtic came calling where he signed a professional contract at the age of 15. Despite not going on to make an appearance in Glasgow, he played 10 times for Ross County during a loan spell in 2021.
- The summer of the same year, Hjelde’s career saw him move to South Yorkshire with Leeds United after they had survived their first year in the Premier League.
- Hjedle went on to make two appearances in the Premier League coming on as a second-half substitute in games against West Ham United and Everton.
- Last season, the defender spent the second of the campaign on loan at Rotherham United. He made 13 appearances which helped the Millers avoid relegation.
- Hjelde came up against Sunderland last season during his loan spell with Rotherham playing 90 minutes in a 2-1 win at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
- Hjelde is the third Norwegian to have been signed by Sunderland after Tore Andre Flo and Thomas Mhyre.