Leo Hjelde, born in Norway on the 26th of August, 2003, is a talented defender who currently dons the number 33 jersey for Sunderland. Standing at an imposing 6ft 2in (1.88m) and weighing in at 11st 11lb (75 kg), Hjelde primarily operates as a left back. He has offered excellent representation to the young Norway U21 national team.
In July 2019, Hjelde transferred to Celtic from his home country's Eliteserien side, Rosenborg, for a fee that was left undisclosed. In his tenure at Celtic, he featured primarily in the Scottish Premiership.
In January 2021, Hjelde was loaned out from Celtic to Ross County, still within the Scottish Premiership. He made his mark in his debut season during 2020 - 2021, where he featured 11 times in the first-team squad while also netting a goal in league matches.
August 2021 saw Hjelde leaving Celtic and the Scottish Premiership behind for Leeds United in the English Championship. The young left-back conducted himself well, securing two first-team appearances during the 2021 - 2022 season. His development continued the following season in 2023 - 2024 where he again made a first-team appearance.
Hjelde's career took another turn in January 2023 when he transferred from Leeds United to Rotherham United on loan in England's League One. His increased game time during the 2022 - 2023 season saw him make a total of 13 first-team appearances.
After completing his loan at Rotherham United in June 2023, Hjelde found himself back at Leeds United. He maintained his position within the first team, featuring in a single match during the 2023 - 2024 season.
Hjelde's next destination was Sunderland in England's Championship league, a move made in January 2024 for a considerable fee of around £1.5m. He quickly made an impact at Sunderland, managing to secure 11 appearances within the 2023 - 2024 season. His impressive form has carried on into the current 2024 - 2025 season, with 15 first-team appearances already under his belt.
Not only contributing heavily in league fixtures, Hjelde has also had a taste of multiple domestic and international cups. He has participated in the FA Cup 2024 - 2025 for Sunderland as well as the League Cup 2024 - 2025. His contributions haven't been limited to domestic football, having also made an appearance in the Championship Play-offs 2024 - 2025. He has further represented his country at the UEFA U21 Championship Qualifiers 2024 - 2025, earning himself eight starts.
