Born on 26 August 2003 in Norway, Leo Hjelde is a professional footballer who plies his trade as a left back for Sunderland, England's Championship division. As of the age of 21, Hjelde stands towering at 6ft 2in (1.88 m) and weighs around 11st 11lb (75 kg). Adorned with the number 33 on his jersey, he also has international experience, having showcased his skills in the Norway U21 national team.
Beginning his professional journey at Rosenborg in the Eliteserien league in Norway, Hjelde transferred to Celtic in the Premiership in Scotland in July 2019 for an undisclosed fee. During his tenure at Celtic, he showcased steady development, leading to a loan move to Ross County in the same Premiership division in January 2021. During his debut season at Ross County (2020 - 2021), Hjelde made a notable impact with 11 appearances and a league goal to his name.
In August 2021, Hjelde took a significant leap in his career, transferring from Celtic to Leeds United in the Championship in England, once again for an undisclosed fee. Struggling to secure a permanent spot in the first team during his time at Leeds (2021 - 2024), Hjelde only made a total of three league appearances. To garner more playtime, he was loaned out to Rotherham United in the League One in England in January 2023, making 13 appearances during the 2022 - 2023 season.
Following his loan period, Hjelde returned to Leeds United in June 2023, only to transfer to Sunderland in the Championship in England in January 2024 for a fee of around £1.5 million. After playing 11 matches for Sunderland during the 2023 - 2024 season, Hjelde has yet to make a league appearance in the current 2024 - 2025 season.
Outside the league, Hjelde had significant involvement in the League Cup 2024 - 2025 for Sunderland with one start, UEFA U21 Qualifiers 2023 for Norway U21 with one start, and UEFA U21 Championship Qualifiers 2024 - 2025 for Norway U21 with eight starts.
Looking back, Hjelde's time at Celtic significantly shaped his career. The young Norwegian developed his skills on Scottish soil, laying the groundwork for his future stints. Despite the undisclosed transfer sums, there's no doubt that his professional journey has garnered considerable attention and anticipation for his future contributions in the world of football.
