Carl Starfelt is a rugged Swedish defender who proudly dons the number 2 jersey for Celta Vigo in Spain's LaLiga. Born on the 1st June 1995 in Sweden, Starfelt is a stalwart central defender. He stands triumphantly at 6ft (1.85m) and weighs in at a sturdy 12st 8lb (80kg), making him a formidable presence on the football field. Starfelt's reputation extends beyond his club engagement, having also earned respect on the international platform representing the Swedish national team.
Starfelt's professional journey commenced skilfully in January 2014 with IF Brommapojkarna in Sweden's Allsvenskan. His debut season saw him make an encouraging 20 appearances, followed by 16 and 15 in the subsequent seasons of 2015 and 2017, respectively. In the latter season, Starfelt's defensive diligence was complimented by an element of surprise in the form of a solitary goal.
In January 2018, Starfelt switched from IF Brommapojkarna to another Allsvenskan club, IFK Gothenburg. A productive 2018 season saw him logging 30 appearances, with the subsequent season featuring 14 appearances accompanied by a goal.
Starfelt's next venture took him to unfamiliar territory when he joined Rubin Kazan in Russia's Premier League in July 2019, commanding a fee of roughly £900k. Despite a modest number of appearances in the maiden season, the subsequent 2020 - 2021 season saw him involved significantly, making 29 appearances and netting three goals.
In July 2021, amid rumbling of excitement and anticipation, Starfelt traded the frosty Russian winter for the Atlantic chill when he transferred to Scotland's Celtic for approximately £4m. Starfelt's introduction to the Scottish Premiership showcased his prowess in the form of 34 appearances for Celtic. His Celtic years saw him make 63 league appearances, luckily finding the back of the net three times. He served Celtic well until August 2023.
Celtic's loss was Celta Vigo's gain when Starfelt transferred to the LaLiga outfit in August 2023 for an undisclosed sum. His tenure with Celta Vigo so far has witnessed him making 52 appearances across two seasons, with one goal each season. Starfelt also graced international competitions, such as the Copa del Rey 2024-2025 for Celta Vigo and the Euro Qualifiers 2022-2024 and Nations League 2024-2025 for Sweden.
Though his journey has been both challenging and rewarding, Carl Starfelt remains a formidable figure in the world of football, imposing himself within the heart of the defence and leaving an indelible mark at each club he has graced.
