wolves add their first choice striker to the squad
Wolves have brought in Norwegian striker Jorgen Strand Larsen on a season-long loan. The 24-year-old joined Wolverhampton on Monday to complete his medical and finalise a move from Celta Vigo. If certain conditions are met, his loan will become a permanent deal until 2029.
Standing at 6ft 4in, Larsen has been capped 14 times by Norway. He arrives at Molineux after a standout season in La Liga, where he scored 13 goals for Celta Vigo.
Larsen began his career in Norway with Sarpsborg 08, having moved there from Kvik Halden as a youngster. He was an all-round sportsman, showing interest in tennis, ice hockey, and golf. However, football became his main focus. He joined Sarpsborg’s senior team in May 2017 and scored a hat-trick in a 10-1 NM Cup win over Drobak-Frogn. He also had a youth loan spell with AC Milan the following season.
Returning to Sarpsborg, Larsen was a regular for two years before moving to Dutch club Groningen. He made an immediate impact in the Eredivisie, assisting on his debut against PSV and ending the 2021/22 season with 17 goals.
In May 2022, he was named Groningen’s Player of the Year and soon moved to La Liga. He started well with Celta, assisting in a 3-0 win over Cadiz on his debut.
Larsen has been a regular for Norway at various age levels, winning the Syrenka Cup with the under-17s in 2016. He has made nearly 70 appearances from under-16 to under-21 levels and earned his first senior cap in November 2020 in a 1-1 draw with Austria.
Since September 2022, he has been a regular in the national team, scoring in friendlies against Jordan and the Faroe Islands, and contributing in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Scotland in Euro 2024 qualification.
After playing for Norway in a 3-0 friendly win over Kosovo this summer, Larsen is set to join O’Neil’s squad for pre-season training at Molineux.
JORGEN STRAND LARSEN
“It’s an amazing feeling. I’m going to give everything from the first minute. To be wearing that number nine is a huge moment for me and there have been many, many number nines here. The last one was Jimenez and he was amazing here.
“I’m really proud to take that number, but I understand that it comes with a lot of hard work, expectation, and important games for me to play, but I’m really looking forward to it and I’m really going to give my everything, and it’s going to be an amazing season, I hope.”
MATT HOBBS
“What is nice for us is that Jorgen was our number one target for a nine in the summer and we’ve managed to get it done. But all three new signings so far were our number one choices in their position, so for us internally, it feels similar to the January in 2023 when we brought in Mario [Lemina], Daws, and everyone else, because they are three of the ones we really wanted to get done.
“Now the hope is that they all have the same level of impact on the pitch. But we’re really excited to have Jorgen here.”
“He’s a great guy. He’s got a really good charisma about him and has a great personality, plus he also speaks perfect English, which is great, and he also speaks fluent Spanish, which is also helpful. So, to get a player who was wanted by lots of clubs because of what he’s done in Spain, but one who is also still young, still learning and still developing, and to bring in our number one choice, has been great.
