Celtic's Next Target - Sondre Ørjasæter
The Scottish Champions have reportedly made a £7m bid for the Sarpsborg 08 winger.
This week, I’ve been focusing on preparing an in-depth piece on Amorim’s tactics at Manchester United for this weekend’s blog. However, with news of a bid being launched for a player I’ve closely followed and recently reported on, I felt it was important to provide an early insight into this exciting prospect for the fans.
After the return of Jota this week, few would have expected Celtic to bring in another winger before Monday’s transfer deadline.
But who is Sondre Ørjasæter? Let’s take a closer look.
Data Analysis
We take a look at Ørjasæter by comparing him to all wingers at the same age group within the Scandinavian Peninsula (Finland, Sweden and Norway). Our data has been collected using Wyscout.
All players have played a minimum of 400mins over 2024 and are maximum 22 years old.
Our initial analysis was to look at how he compares against other players in offensive duels. From the scatter plot below, we can see he is one of the best performers in the region for his age group, alongside Toure Bazoumana (Hammarby) and Daniel Job (Sarpsborg 08).
We delve into his performances from last season, focusing on his attacking threat by analysing his shot accuracy and dribbling ability.
As illustrated in the charts below, Ørjasæter ranks above average in both shot performance and dribbling metrics. This highlights his effectiveness as a dynamic winger who excels at taking on defenders and creating goal-scoring opportunities.
One area for improvement is his crossing ability. However, given his direct playing style and role as an inverted winger, he often cuts inside toward goal rather than driving down the line to deliver crosses. This is reflected in his relatively low number of crosses.
Scouting Report
Name: Sondre Holmlund Ørjasæter
Date of Birth: November 28, 2003
Age: 21
Nationality: Norwegian
Position: Left Winger (LW)
Height: 1.80 meters (5'11")
Preferred Foot: Right
Current Club: Sarpsborg 08 FF (Norway)
Club Number: 27
Contract Expiry: December 31, 2027 (Transfermarkt)
Player Data Analysis (2024 Eliteserien Season)
Appearances: 28
Game Minutes: 2608
Goals: 7
Assists: 5
Technical Attributes
Dribbling and Ball Control: Ørjasæter possesses excellent ball control and carries the ball at high speed over long distances with ease. He thrives on 1v1 duels and shows confidence in possession by always driving forward at defenders. However, he shows some predictability in his dribbling, as he tends to use his strongest right foot often and cut inside to the central area of the field.
Passing and Crossing: He distributes the ball well to his teammates, demonstrating accuracy and the correct power when passing the ball. However, there are moments when he should execute a pass with his weaker left foot but tries to shift the ball over to his right, which results in a loss of possession.
However, given his role as an inverted winger he tends to cross from deep areas of the field, rather than close to the byline. He executes these crosses well and shows a level of accuracy, but there is room for improvement.
Shooting and Finishing: Ørjasæter shows great technique when striking the ball which results in good accuracy. He is a threat on the opposition goal as he often cuts inside and gets his shots off quickly from outside the box.
Physical Attributes
Pace and Acceleration: He is one of the quickest players in the Norwegian top division. His speed underpins his ability to create threats during attacking transitions and provide support during defensive transitions.
Agility and Balance: Ørjasæter is an excellent athlete who can move freely around the field. He can easily change directions with his runs at speed, which is demonstrated in his pressing runs during matches.
Stamina: He can maintain a high level of sprints and mobility throughout the entirety of the match.
Tactical Attributes
Positioning and Off-the-Ball Movement: He demonstrates excellent game intelligence and awareness off the ball, by identifying areas of space in between the opposing teams’ defensive lines. He will often move quickly to these areas to create an angle for the ball carrier to execute a pass.
Defensive Support: Ørjasæter shows willingness and hunger to sprint back and provide support for his full back, negating any opportunities for the opposition to create an overload on this side of the field.
Versatility: He is predominantly a left winger but can play on opposite wing or through the middle as a 10. Although, he is a more effective threat on the left.
Mental Attributes
Decision-Making: He shows effective decision-making both with and without the ball. However there are moments when he can release the ball to a teammate quicker, rather than looking to beat another defender.
Composure: He operates on the field with excellent press resistance, using his quick feet to play out of tight areas by dribbling away or through danger.
Work Ethic: He consistently works hard for his side, through high intensity runs when attacking and defending. He is always available to help his full back by providing cover and moving into space to offer a pass option.
Summary
Sondre Ørjasæter is an exciting, young talent who is known for his exceptional combination of technical proficiency, physical prowess, and tactical intelligence. His agility and pace make him a persistent offensive threat on the left wing, while his vision and creativity play a pivotal role in driving his team's attack. He demonstrates an excellent attitude on the field by showing the same intensity in his defensive duties as his attacking responsibilities.
If the bid is successful, fans could be looking forward to a young talent who has the potential to develop into a key player for the club. As the transfer window approaches its climax, Ørjasæter’s arrival would undoubtedly add another layer of excitement to an already strong squad.