Jörgen Strand Larsen is moving to Crystal Palace as the most expensive transfer in the club’s history. Despite such a disappointing season, he is expected to breathe new life into the struggling “Eagles.”
From Norway to South London, it was a long journey – both sportingly and geographically. But no matter which country Jörgen Strand Larsen has played in so far, goals were usually never the problem. Now, the 1.93-meter-tall attacker is set to lead the offense at Crystal Palace.
The record signing arrives in London with an unusual career path. His development led him from small Norwegian pitches, through Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, all the way to the Premier League. Each step shaped the striker, who is now considered a complete player – robust, tactically intelligent, and a team player.
Jörgen Strand Larsen scored only one goal for Wolverhampton this season
Born in the coastal town of Halden, Strand Larsen grew up in a sporting family. Both parents were themselves known for their goal-scoring abilities in local football leagues. Nevertheless, the young Norwegian initially tried other sports such as tennis and ice hockey before finally deciding on football as a teenager.
His training began at Kvik Halden FK before he moved to first-division club Sarpsborg 08. There, he made a spectacular senior debut: In a 10-1 cup victory against Drobak Frogn, the then 17-year-old immediately scored a hat-trick.
Strand Larsen Gathers First International Experience at AC Milan
His talent quickly spread. A loan move to the U20s of AC Milan brought him his first international experiences. There, he trained with professionals like Gonzalo Higuaín, Krzysztof Piątek, and Lucas Paquetá, gathering important impressions in a top-tier environment.
Back in Norway, he continued to develop into a classic center forward. At Sarpsborg 08 , he became a regular player and simultaneously impressed in the Norwegian youth national teams with a strong goal-scoring record.
Strand Larsen Achieves Breakthrough Alongside Arjen Robben
In 2020, he took the next step and moved to FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. In the Netherlands, he quickly developed from a promising talent into a permanent fixture in the attack. In his debut against PSV Eindhoven, he immediately set up a goal – alongside Arjen Robben.
He also made a name for himself on the international stage: In November 2020, he made his debut for Norway’s A-national team against Austria. He finished his first season in Groningen as the team’s top scorer with a total of 14 goals involvement (nine goals, five assists) in 30 games.
In the following season, he further improved, scoring 17 goals across all competitions. His consistent performances earned him the Player of the Year award at his club – and led to clubs from bigger leagues becoming intensely interested in him.
With his move to Celta Vigo, Strand Larsen embraced the challenge of La Liga. In Spain, he proved that he is far more than just a classic target man and also has an eye for his better-positioned teammates.
In a total of 74 games between 2022 and 2024, he scored 18 goals and set up nine others. In the 2023/24 season, he was his club’s top scorer.
Strand Larsen makes an impression at Wolverhampton Wanderers
With his height, athleticism, and game intelligence, Strand Larsen was considered destined for the Premier League. In the 2024/25 season, Wolverhampton Wanderers secured his services. Thanks to his language skills in Spanish and English, he quickly found his footing. Already in his second league game, he scored for the first time – against Chelsea.
His debut season ended with 14 goals and five assists in 38 games. This made him one of the most noticeable Wolves players of the season. In the current season, however, things have not gone as desired. In 22 Premier League games, he has only one goal and one assist. Nevertheless, he remained highly interesting for other clubs.
Crystal Palace Signs Strand Larsen for Record Sum
Crystal Palace finally made the move. Coach Oliver Glasner’s team has suffered immense losses in the past, most recently losing two more highly sought-after players in Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi. As early as 2024, they had to let Michael Olise join FC Bayern.
Strand Larsen, however, hopes to get his career back on track with the “Eagles.” After all, it’s not just about a successful season in the Premier League for him, but also about a nomination for the Norwegian national team, which, with Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, is considered one of the dark horses at the World Cup.