Pontus Skule Erik Almqvist (born 10 July 1999) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays for Italian Serie A club Lecce.[2] He is also signed to Russian club Rostov, but that contract is suspended. He is deployed as a winger or forward.

Pontus Almqvist
Almqvist with FC Rostov in 2021
Personal information
Full name Pontus Skule Erik Almqvist
Date of birth (1999-07-10) 10 July 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth Nyköping, Sweden
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Winger[1]
Team information
Current team
Lecce
(on loan from Rostov)
Number 7
Youth career
0000–2013 Nyköpings
2014 Syrianska
2014 Norrköping
2015–2016 Nike Academy
2016 IFK Norrköping
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Norrköping 28 (5)
2017Sylvia (loan) 3 (1)
2018Varbergs BoIS (loan) 4 (0)
2018Norrby (loan) 14 (1)
2019Sylvia (loan) 6 (2)
2020– Rostov 37 (3)
2022Utrecht (loan) 9 (0)
2022–2023Pogoń Szczecin (loan) 27 (5)
2023–Lecce (loan) 11 (2)
International career
2017–2019 Sweden U19 2 (0)
2020 Sweden U21 5 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:41, 5 November 2023 (UTC)

Career edit

 
Almqvist in 2023 with Pogoń Szczecin

After attending trials in Stockholm, Almqvist joined the Nike Football Academy before signing a professional contract with Norrköping for the 2017 season.[3] On 23 September 2017, he made his debut for Norrköping, playing the last ten minutes in a 2–1 loss to Halmstad.[4] He spent part of the 2017 season loan at Division 2 side IF Sylvia where he played three games and scored one goal.[5] He joined Varbergs BoIS on loan at the start of the 2018 season and played four times before returning to Norrköping in July 2018.[6] He scored his first two goals for Sweden U21 in September 2020 [7]

On 15 October 2020, Almqvist signed a five-year contract with Russian Premier League club Rostov.[8] On 7 March 2022, FIFA introduced special regulations related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Those regulations allow foreign players in Russia to unilaterally temporarily suspend their contracts with their Russian clubs until the end of the 2021–22 season and join clubs outside of Russia until that date.[9] On 17 March 2022, Almqvist used the new rule to sign with FC Utrecht in the Netherlands until the end of the 2021–22 season.[10]

FIFA extended their regulations for the 2022–23 season, allowing Almqvist to join Polish side Pogoń Szczecin on a one-year loan spell on 5 July 2022.[11]

On 22 June 2023, Almqvist moved on a new temporary deal to Lecce in Italy.[12]

Career statistics edit

As of 13 November 2022
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Norrköping 2017 Allsvenskan 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
2019 Allsvenskan 7 0 2 0 9 0
2020 Allsvenskan 20 5 0 0 20 5
Total 28 5 3 0 0 0 31 5
Sylvia (loan) 2017 Division 2 3 1 3 1
Varberg (loan) 2018 Superettan 4 0 4 0
Norrby (loan) 2018 Superettan 14 1 1 0 15 1
Sylvia (loan) 2019 Ettan 6 2 6 2
Rostov 2020–21 Russian Premier League 19 1 1 0 20 1
2021–22 Russian Premier League 18 2 1 0 19 2
Total 37 3 2 0 0 0 39 3
Utrecht (loan) 2021–22 Eredivisie 9 0 9 0
Pogoń Szczecin (loan) 2022–23 Ekstraklasa 12 3 0 0 3 0 15 3
Career total 113 15 6 0 3 0 122 15

References edit

  1. ^ Pontus Almqvist at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ Pontus Almqvist‚ svenskfotboll.se, 4 January 2018
  3. ^ "Pontus Almqvist signs for IFK Norrköping | Nike Academy to pro contract". unisportstore.com. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  4. ^ "HALMSTAD VS. NORRKÖPING 2 - 1". Soccerway. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  5. ^ "18. Pontus Almqvist Slyvia profile". IF Sylvia. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  6. ^ "IFK-mittfältaren tränar med annan klubb". nt.se (in Swedish). 18 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  7. ^ "BBC Football Scores". bbc. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Понтус Альмквист — игрок "Ростова"" (in Russian). FC Rostov. 15 October 2020.
  9. ^ "FIFA adopts temporary employment and registration rules to address several issues in relation to war in Ukraine". FIFA. 7 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Pontus Almqvist maakt seizoen af bij FC Utrecht" (Press release) (in Dutch). Utrecht. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Pontus Almqvist nowym zawodnikiem Pogoni!" (in Polish). Pogoń Szczecin. 5 July 2022.
  12. ^ "ALMQVIST IN GIALLOROSSO" (in Russian). US Lecce. 22 June 2023.

External links edit