Bjørn_Maars_Johnsen

Bjørn Maars Johnsen

Bjørn Maars Johnsen

Norwegian footballer (born 1991)

Bjørn Maars Johnsen (born 6 November 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Georgian Erovnuli Liga club Torpedo Kutaisi and the Norway national team.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Early life

Born in New York City and raised in Norway to a Norwegian father and an American mother,[2] Johnsen grew up in North Carolina and attended Needham B. Broughton High School in Raleigh, where he played on the school's soccer team.[3]

Club career

Early career

Johnsen started his football career in Vålerenga and Tønsberg, staying there for two seasons. After leaving Tønsberg he went to Andalusia, to the CD Úbeda Viva, where he became the first foreigner in the history of the club. Johnsen spent close to three months with the club, where he played four games and scored a goal before signing fourth tier Spanish team Antequera in January 2012.[4] Eight months later, on 5 August 2012, Johnsen joined Segunda División B side Atlético Baleares,[4] where he played alongside Walter Pandiani.[5]

Atlético CP

On 17 July 2014, Johnsen signed with Portuguese club Atlético CP on a two-year deal.[6] In August, he won the award for Player of the Month in the Segunda Liga, after scoring nine goals in five games.[7] His strong performances saw him being scouted by such teams as Benfica, Sporting CP and Belenenses, but the transfer never arrived.[8][9] According to the Portuguese press Benfica offered €300,000 plus two of their players, but Atletico wanted €500,000 and thus rejected the offer.[10]

Litex Lovech

After half a season, 31 matches and 16 goals with Atletico, Johnsen joined the Bulgarian team Litex Lovech for two and a half years.[11] He made his debut on 28 February 2015 in a home win against Ludogorets Razgrad.[12] On 23 May he scored a hat trick in a match against Ludogorets for a 4–2 win.[13] On 12 December 2015, he was sent off after an altercation with Miguel Bedoya in an ill-tempered A PFG match against Levski Sofia that was eventually abandoned after the Litex players were ordered off the pitch.[14]

Heart of Midlothian

On 22 July 2016, Johnsen completed a move to Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian, on a three-year deal. He made his debut on 20 August 2016, appearing as a substitute in a 5–1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle played at Tynecastle, where he assisted a Sam Nicholson goal with one of his first touches.[15]

ADO Den Haag

Johnsen moved to ADO Den Haag for an undisclosed fee on 31 July 2017.[16] In his first season he scored 19 goals in 34 official matches.

AZ Alkmaar

After a great season at ADO Den Haag, Johnsen transferred to AZ Alkmaar in 2018.[17] His performance was substandard leading to a half-year loan spell at Rosenborg BK.[18]

Ulsan Hyundai

On 6 January 2020, Johnsen signed a three-year contract with K League side Ulsan Hyundai.[19][20]

CF Montreal

On 3 February 2021, Johnsen signed with MLS club CF Montreal.[21]

FC Seoul

On 22 July 2023, Johnsen signed with K League team FC Seoul.[22]

Torpedo Kutaisi

On 24 January 2024, Johnsen joined Georgian club Torpedo Kutaisi on a 1+1 deal.[23] He opened his goalscoring account with a brace in a 4–1 win over Samtredia.[24]

International career

Due to his dual nationality, Johnsen was able to play for both Norway and the United States.[25] Johnsen made his Norway debut in June 2017.[26]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 April 2024[27]
More information Club, Season ...

    International

    As of match played on 15 October 2019
    More information National team, Year ...
    Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Johnsen goal.[28]
    More information No., Date ...

    Honours

    Ulsan Hyundai

    Individual

    References

    1. [1]
      "Bjørn Maars Johnsen". CF Montréal. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
    2. [2]
      Sciaretta, Brian (3 June 2015). "Bjorn Maars Johnsen Seeks Breakthrough in Bulgaria". American Soccer Now. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
    3. [3]
      Tommy Kopetskie (24 September 2009). "Wolverines fall short at Broughton". NorthRaleighSports.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
    4. [4]
      "Bjorn Maars Johnsen formará parte de la primera plantilla del Atco Baleares" [Bjorn Maars Johnsen will make part of the first team of Atco Baleares]. Mallorca Esporte (in Spanish). 5 August 2012. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    5. [5]
      "Nordmenn i spansk fotball" [Norwegians in Spanish football]. Fotballsonen (in Norwegian). 5 April 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    6. [6]
      "Bjorn Maars para reforçar o ataque" [Bjorn Maars joins to bolster offense]. Sou Atlético (in Portuguese). 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    7. [7]
      "Bjorn recebeu o prémio de melhor jogador da 2ª Liga" [Bjorn receives award for Best Player of the Segunda Liga]. Liga Portugal (in Portuguese). 2 November 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    8. [8]
      "Benfica assegura Bjorn Johnsen" [Benfica secures Bjorn Johnsen]. Correio da Manhã. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    9. [9]
      "Leões também estão atentos a Bjorn Maars" [Lions also track Bjorn Maars]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 November 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
    10. [10]
      "Norsk spisstalent kan bli lagkamerat med Nani" [Norwegian striker could partner with Nani]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 5 November 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    11. [11]
      "Bjorn Johnsen troca o Atlético pelo Litex Lovech" [Bjorn Johnsen changes Atlético for Litex Lovech]. Sapo Desporto (in Portuguese). 24 February 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    12. [12]
      "Lovech vs. Ludogorets 1 – 0". Soccerway. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    13. [13]
      "Рядко срещана комична дузпа и Чворович помогнаха за впечатляващ обрат на Литекс срещу Лудогорец" [Rare comic penalty and Chvorovich helped Litex beat Ludogorets]. Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 23 May 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    14. [14]
      "Levski Sofia vs. Litex Lovech Matchcast". topsport.bg. 12 December 2015. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
    15. [15]
      "Dire Caley Thistle thrashed 5–1 by ruthless Hearts". www.inverness-courier.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
    16. [16]
      "Hearts: striker Bjorn Johnsen sold to ADO Den Haag for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
    17. [17]
      "Ex-Hearts striker Bjorn Johnsen seals move to AZ Alkmaar". edinburghnews.com. JPI Media Publishing. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
    18. [18]
      "Rosenborg låner Maars Johnsen" [Rosenborg borrows Maars Johnsen]. rbk.no (in Norwegian). Rosenborg BK. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
    19. [19]
      "Johnsen leaves AZ for South Korea". Football Oranje. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
    20. [20]
      "Johnsen keert niet terug bij AZ na verhuurperiode" [Johnsen does not return to AZ after the loan period]. nos.nl (in Dutch). 6 January 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
    21. [21]
      Bogert, Tom (3 February 2021). "CF Montreal sign Norway international forward Bjorn Johnsen from Ulsan Hyundai". MLS Official Website. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
    22. [22]
      Neat, Paul (22 July 2023). "Transfers: FC Seoul sign former Ulsan Hyundai striker Bjørn Johnsen". K League United. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
    23. [23]
      ""ტორპედოში" ნორვეგიის ნაკრების ექსფორვარდი ჩაირიცხა". atiani.ge (in Georgian). 24 January 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
    24. [24]
      "Torpedo vs Samtredia". soccerway.com. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
    25. [25]
      "Who will be the next dual-national to join U.S. Soccer?". American Soccer Now. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    26. [26]
      "Storscoreren Ola Kamara tviler på landslagsframtida: - Tror ikke sjansene mine er der lenger". dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
    27. [27]
      "Bjørn Maars Johnsen". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
    28. [28]
      "Johnsen, Bjørn Maars". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
    29. [29]
      "SPFL monthly awards". www.spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016.
    30. [30]
      "Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for November". Sky Sports. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
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