Skage Simonsen Lehland (born 12 April 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. He was last a part of Hartford Athletic in the USL Championship.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Skage Simonsen Lehland | ||
| Date of birth | 12 April 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Grimstad, Norway | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) |
Attacking midfielder Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | Brann | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | St. John's Red Storm | 38 | (9) |
| 2020–2021 | SMU Mustangs | 27 | (10) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2015 | Sandviken | 27 | (6) |
| 2015–2017 | Fana | 38 | (2) |
| 2017 | Os TF | 7 | (0) |
| 2018 | Varegg | 5 | (1) |
| 2019 | Lokomotiv Oslo | 6 | (5) |
| 2021 | NY Pancyprian-Freedoms | ||
| 2022 | Loudoun United | 25 | (2) |
| 2023 | Detroit City | 24 | (3) |
| 2024 | Hartford Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| 2024 | NY Pancyprian-Freedoms | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 January 2024 | |||
Career
editEarly career & college
editSimonsen played with SK Brann at youth level,[1] before joining various lower league clubs in Norway, including Sandviken, Fana, Os TF, Krohnsminde (futsal), and Varegg.[2][3][4]
In 2018, Simonsen moved to the United States to play college soccer at St. John's University. In two seasons in New York, Simonsen made 38 appearances, scoring nine goals and tallying ten assists. He was named Big East Freshman of Year in 2018 and All-Big East Second Team in both seasons.[1] Simonsen transferred to Southern Methodist University in 2020, going on to score ten goals and add four assists to his name in 27 appearances for the Mustangs. He was named AAC First Team in both his seasons at SMU.[5]
While at college, Simosen also traveled back to Norway during the summers to play with Lokomotiv Oslo, where he made six appearances and scored five goals in the Norwegian Third Division.[6][2] In 2021, he played with fifth-tier US side NY Pancyprian-Freedoms.[7]
Professional
editOn 11 January 2022, Simonsen was drafted 69th overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United.[8] He signed with D.C. United's USL Championship affiliate side Loudoun United on 8 March 2022.[9][10]
On 13 December 2022, Simonsen was announced as a new signing for USL Championship side Detroit City FC ahead of their 2023 season.[11]
On 24 January 2024, Simonsen was transferred to Hartford Athletic in exchange for Matthew Sheldon.[12][13] On 7 March, his contract was mutually terminated.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Skage Simonsen - Men's Soccer". St. John's University Athletics.
- ^ a b Fotballforbund, Norges. "Skage Simonsen Lehland - Profil". fotball.no - Norges Fotballforbund.
- ^ Haaland, Bernt-Erik (12 January 2022). "(+) Kjøkkenselgeren fra Skansen blir fotballproff i USA". Bergensavisen.
- ^ "Skage (21) fra Bergen jakter proffdrømmen i USA. En tidligere Brann-keeper trekker i trådene". www.aftenposten.no. 15 July 2019.
- ^ "Skage Simonsen - Men's Soccer". SMU Athletics.
- ^ https://www.lokomotivoslo.no/filer/visprofil.php?brukerid=331
- ^ "Former NYPF Players Oluwaseyi and Simonsen Picked in 2022 MLS SUPER DRAFT".
- ^ "D.C. United Select Midfielder Skage Simonsen with the 69th Pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft Presented by adidas | DC United". dcunited.
- ^ "LOUDOUN UNITED SIGN D.C. UNITED MLS SUPERDRAFT PICK SKAGE SIMONSEN".
- ^ USLChampionship com Staff (8 March 2022). "Loudoun United Signs Norwegian Midfielder Skage Simonsen". USL Championship.
- ^ "USL Championship Roster Updates".
- ^ "2024 USL CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER UPDATES". DetCityFC.com. Detroit City. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Leduc, M. "Hartford Athletic Transfer Defender Matt Sheldon to Detroit City FC". Hartf. Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ https://www.hartfordathletic.com/news/2024/03/07/hartford-athletic-and-skage-simonsen-mutually-terminate-contract/