Kristian Majdahl Pedersen (born 4 August 1994) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from EFL Championship club Swansea City, and for 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 29)
Place of birth Ringsted, Denmark
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Sheffield Wednesday
(on loan from Swansea City)
Number 3
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– Swansea City 4 (0)
2024–Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2 (0)
International career
2016 Denmark U21 5 (0)
2020 Denmark 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:02, 9 February 2024 (UTC)

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

Club career edit

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

HB Køge edit

He 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 edit

Following two seasons at Køge, he signed for German 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]

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

Birmingham City edit

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 duly 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 edit

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

Swansea City edit

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]

International career edit

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.[12]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 9 February 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[13][14] Danish 1st Division 28 1 3 0 31 1
2015–16[13][15] Danish 1st Division 30 1 3 1 33 2
Total 58 2 6 1 64 3
Union Berlin 2016–17[13] 2. Bundesliga 29 0 2 0 31 0
2017–18[13] 2. Bundesliga 32 1 1 0 33 1
Total 61 1 3 0 64 1
Birmingham City 2018–19[16] EFL Championship 39 1 0 0 0 0 39 1
2019–20[17] EFL Championship 44 4 4 0 0 0 48 4
2020–21[18] EFL Championship 35 2 0 0 1 0 36 2
2021–22[19] EFL Championship 37 2 1 0 0 0 38 2
Total 155 9 5 0 1 0 161 9
1. FC Köln 2022–23[13] Bundesliga 6 0 1 0 7[c] 0 14 0
2023–24[13] Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 6 0 1 0 7 0 14 0
Swansea City 2023–24[20] EFL Championship 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2023–24[20] EFL Championship 2 0 2 0
Career total 286 12 16 1 1 0 7 0 310 13
  1. ^ Includes Danish Cup, DFB-Pokal and FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References edit

  1. ^ "Kristian Pedersens unmögliche Karriere" [Kristian Pedersen's impossible career]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 19 February 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  2. ^ Phil Hay (9 May 2018). "Whites Want Danish Full Back Kristian Pedersen". Yorkshire Evening Post.
  3. ^ Stier, Sebastian (19 February 2017). "Kristian Pedersens unmögliche Karriere" – via Tagesspiegel.
  4. ^ a b c "Kristian Pedersen – Football Stats – Birmingham City – Season 2016/2017 – Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com.
  5. ^ "Kristian Pedersen: Birmingham City boss Garry Monk makes his first signing". BBC Sport. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Birmingham City: Profitability and Sustainability". English Football League. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  7. ^ Dick, Brian (5 August 2018). "Mags is magic but there wasn't enough support – How Birmingham City rated". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Köln verpflichtet Abwehrspieler Pedersen". kicker (in German).
  9. ^ Coleman, Tom (1 September 2023). "Swansea City complete first deadline day signing as Kristian Pedersen reveals why he made Swans move". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  10. ^ Coleman, Tom (2 February 2024). "Swansea City transfer deadline day as it happened: Swans complete three signings as Kristian Pedersen joins Sheffield Wednesday". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Pedersen starts against Huddersfield". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Denmark v Faroe Islands". BBC Sport. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "K. Pedersen". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  14. ^ For Danish Cup rounds not covered by Soccerway: "HB Køge er klar til 2. runde i DBU Pokalen" [HB Køge are in the 2nd round of the DBU Cup] (in Danish). HB Køge. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
    Nybo, Jesper (24 September 2014). "HB Køge sikkert videre efter sejr over Næsby" [HB Køge safely through after victory over Næsby] (in Danish). HB Køge. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
    "Fortjent sejr da HB Køge spillede sig videre" [Deserved win as HB Køge play on] (in Danish). HB Køge. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  15. ^ For Danish Cup rounds not covered by Soccerway: "Kristian Pedersen". FootballDatabase.eu. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Games played by Kristian Pedersen in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Games played by Kristian Pedersen in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Games played by Kristian Pedersen in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Games played by Kristian Pedersen in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Games played by Kristian Pedersen in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2024.

External links edit