Kristian Pedersen

For other people with similar names, see Christian Pedersen.

Kristian Majdahl Pedersen (born 4 August 1994) is a Danish professional footballer who most recently played as a defender for Swansea City and the Denmark national team. He plays predominantly at left back but can also play at centre back.

Kristian Pedersen

Pedersen with Union Berlin in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Kristian Majdahl Pedersen[1]
Date of birth	(1994-08-04) 4 August 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Ringsted, Denmark
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Benløse IF	0	(0)
0000–2014	Ringsted IF
2014–2016	HB Køge	58	(2)
2016–2018	Union Berlin	61	(1)
2018–2022	Birmingham City	155	(9)
2022–2023	1. FC Köln	6	(0)
2023–2025	Swansea City	4	(0)
2024	→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	4	(0)
International career
2016	Denmark U21	5	(0)
2020	Denmark	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:27, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

He has represented his country at under-21 level,^[2] and made his senior debut in 2020.

Club career

Pedersen started his early career at Benløse IF, before moving to fourth division side Ringsted IF.

HB Køge

Pedersen signed for HB Køge on 24 July 2014 under head coach Henrik Pedersen. His debut for HB Køge came on 25 July 2014 when he came on as a substitute with the score at 1–1 on the first day of the first division in the away game at Skive IK in the 77th minute. On 19 April 2015, he scored his first goal for HBK against AB in a 3–0 win.

In the 2015–16 winter break he joined German Bundesliga side Borussia Moenchengladbach on trial but a move did not materialise. In the second half he came for HB Køge to twelve games in the Danish second division.

Pedersen went on to play on more than 50 occasions for the club, scoring twice in total, against AB and Skive.

Union Berlin

Following two seasons at Køge, Pedersen signed for 2. Bundesliga side Union Berlin in 2016. on a three-year deal.^[3] He made his debut for Union Berlin on 6 August 2016 against VfL Bochum in a 2–1 defeat.^[4] 30 September 2016, Pedersen received a red card against 1. FC Nürnberg.^[4]

He scored his first goal for Union Berlin on 24 February 2018, in a 2–1 win against SV Sandhausen.^[4]

Birmingham City

Pedersen signed a four-year contract with English Championship (second-tier) club Birmingham City on 25 June 2018; the fee was undisclosed.^[5] However, Birmingham's unaddressed Financial Fair Play issues left the English Football League (EFL) "exceptionally disappointed" that the club had nevertheless proceeded with a purchase, and they refused to register him. Two days before the season was due to start, and "after consideration of the legal position as between the Club, Player and the EFL", an agreement was reached such that Pedersen's registration was allowed.^[6] He made his debut on the opening day, starting at left back in a 2–2 draw at home to Norwich City.^[7]

1. FC Köln

In July 2022, Pedersen joined 1. FC Köln on a free transfer.^[8]

Swansea City

Pedersen signed a two-year contract with Championship club Swansea City on 1 September 2023; the fee was undisclosed.^[9]

Having played little, in part because of injury, Pedersen joined divisional rivals Sheffield Wednesday on 1 February 2024 on loan for the remainder of the season.^[10] He made his debut that weekend starting in the 4–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town.^[11] Pedersen would also struggle for game time at Sheffield Wednesday, although it was again partly because of injury.^[12] He made just four appearances during his time on loan, with his only start having come during his debut against Huddersfield.^[13]

Upon returning to Swansea City, Pedersen would make just two more appearances for the club in the following season.^[14] Both of these would come in August and in the EFL Cup. Although Pedersen had already struggled to dislodge Ben Cabango and Harry Darling in Swansea's defence, this would be another season which was heavily affected by injuries. He faced two significant spells on the sidelines; the first being a hamstring injury from September until late October, and the second having come from hamstring surgery which kept him out of action from December until late April.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Pedersen was released by Swansea at the end of the 2024-25 season, having made seven appearances in all competitions.^[19]

International career

Pedersen has represented Denmark U-21's, making his debut in 2016 against Ukraine.

Pedersen made his senior international debut on 7 October 2020 in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands.^[20]

Career statistics

As of match played 31 August 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
HB Køge	2014–15[21][22]	Danish 1st Division	28	1	3	0	—		—		31	1
	2015–16[21][23]	Danish 1st Division	30	1	3	1	—		—		33	2
	Total		58	2	6	1	—		—		64	3
Union Berlin	2016–17[21]	2. Bundesliga	29	0	2	0	—		—		31	0
	2017–18[21]	2. Bundesliga	32	1	1	0	—		—		33	1
	Total		61	1	3	0	—		—		64	1
Birmingham City	2018–19[24]	EFL Championship	39	1	0	0	0	0	—		39	1
	2019–20[25]	EFL Championship	44	4	4	0	0	0	—		48	4
	2020–21[26]	EFL Championship	35	2	0	0	1	0	—		36	2
	2021–22[27]	EFL Championship	37	2	1	0	0	0	—		38	2
	Total		155	9	5	0	1	0	—		161	9
1. FC Köln	2022–23[21]	Bundesliga	6	0	1	0	—		7[c]	0	14	0
	2023–24[21]	Bundesliga	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		6	0	1	0	—		7	0	14	0
Swansea City	2023–24[13]	EFL Championship	4	0	1	0	0	0	—		5	0
	2024–25[14]	EFL Championship	0	0	0	0	2	0	—		2	0
	Total		4	0	1	0	2	0	—		7	0
Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	2023–24[13]	EFL Championship	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
Career total			288	12	16	1	3	0	7	0	314	13

1. Includes Danish Cup, DFB-Pokal and FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League