Jesper Daland

Jesper Norman Daland (born 6 January 2000) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Cardiff City.

Jesper Daland

Jesper Daland in 2024.
Personal information
Full name	Jesper Norman Daland[1]
Date of birth	(2000-01-06) 6 January 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth	Kristiansand, Norway
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Cardiff City
Number	5
Youth career
2013–2016	Vigør
2016–2018	Stabæk
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015	Vigør	7	(0)
2019–2021	Start	30	(1)
2021–2024	Cercle Brugge	110	(4)
2024–	Cardiff City	20	(0)
International career‡
2015	Norway U15	3	(0)
2016	Norway U16	17	(2)
2017	Norway U17	7	(0)
2018	Norway U18	13	(1)
2019	Norway U19	1	(0)
2020–2023	Norway U21	15	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 March 2023

Club career

Start

Daland signed with Start before the 2019 season. A knee injury ruined his entire first season at the club, which meant that he only made his league debut for the club on 17 June 2020 in a 2–2 draw against Strømsgodset.^[2] Four days later, he scored his first league goal in a 2–2 draw against Sandefjord.^[3] His strong performances during the 2020 season meant that he was awarded the IK Start Young Player of the Year award in January 2021.^[4]

Cercle Brugge

In May 2021, Daland signed a four-year contract with Belgian Pro League club Cercle Brugge.^[5] He made his debut as a starter on 24 July 2021 in a match against Beerschot which was interrupted after 55 minutes due to heavy rainfall.^[6] The match was continued on 27 July, and ended in a 1–0 win for Cercle.^[7]

Cardiff City

On 20 August 2024, Daland signed for EFL Championship club Cardiff City on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.^[8]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 May 2025^[9]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vigør	2015	Norwegian Third Division	7	0	0	0	—		—		7	0
Start	2020	Eliteserien	30	1	0	0	—		—		30	1
Cercle Brugge	2021–22	Belgian Pro League	32	2	1	0	—		—		33	2
	2022–23	Belgian Pro League	37	1	2	0	—		—		39	1
	2023–24	Belgian Pro League	39	1	1	0	—		—		40	1
	2024–25	Belgian Pro League	2	0	0	0	—		4[a]	0	6	0
	Total		110	4	4	0	—		4	0	118	4
Cardiff City	2024–25	Championship	20	0	2	0	—		—		22	0
Career total			165	5	6	0	0	0	4	0	175	5

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League