Elias Melkersen
Elias Hoff Melkersen (born 31 December 2002) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays for Strømsgodset, on loan from Scottish Premiership club Hibernian, as a forward.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Elias Hoff Melkersen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 31 December 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Norway | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Strømsgodset (on loan from Hibernian) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2018 | Stjørdals-Blink | ||
| 2018–2020 | Bodø/Glimt | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Bodø/Glimt 2 | 14 | (5) |
| 2020–2021 | Bodø/Glimt | 0 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Hødd (loan) | 7 | (4) |
| 2021 | → Ranheim (loan) | 26 | (17) |
| 2022– | Hibernian | 24 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2023– | → Strømsgodset (loan) | 6 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Norway U17 | 6 | (2) |
| 2020 | Norway U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2021– | Norway U20 | 7 | (2) |
| 2023– | Norway U21 | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:11, 16 June 2023 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Early career
Melkersen played in his native Norway with Bodø/Glimt, Hødd and Ranheim.[1][3]
Hibernian
Melkersen signed for Scottish club Hibernian in January 2022.[4][5][6] Melkersen's transfer was delayed due to work permit issues.[7][8]
Melkersen and Norwegian compatriot Runar Hauge made their Hibernian debuts on 2 March 2022, both appearing as substitutes.[9][10][11] Following the match, and a later injury to Kevin Nisbet, Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney praised Melkersen's hard work and told him to 'step up' to first-team football.[12] On 13 March 2022, Melkersen scored a brace in his first start for Hibernian, both proving decisive in the club's 2–1 win in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals against Motherwell.[13][14]
Melkersen moved on loan to Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam in January 2023.[15] He was then loaned to Strømsgodset in August 2023.[16]
International career
Melkersen is a Norwegian youth international, representing them at under-17, under-18, under-20 and under-21 levels.[1][4][3] He made his debut at under-21 level in a goalless draw with Scotland in June 2023.[17]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bodø/Glimt 2 | 2018 | 4. divisjon | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |||
| 2019 | 3. divisjon | 13 | 4 | — | — | — | 13 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | ||
| Bodø/Glimt | 2020 | Eliteserien | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hødd (loan) | 2020 | 2. divisjon | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 4 | ||
| Ranheim (loan) | 2021 | 1. divisjon | 26 | 17 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 29 | 19 | ||
| Hibernian | 2021–22[18] | Scottish Premiership | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 2 | |
| 2022–23[19] | Scottish Premiership | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24[20] | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3 | ||
| Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 73 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 84 | 31 | ||
References
- Elias Melkersen at Soccerway
- "Elias Melkersen". Hibernian FC.
- Elias Melkersen at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
- "Hibs sign Bodo/Glimt striker Melkersen". BBC Sport.
- Newport, Andrew (8 January 2022). "Elias Hoff Melkersen hailed as Hibs transfer coup despite call up concern". Daily Record.
- Banks, Ben (11 January 2022). "Elias Melkersen and Hibs' brave transfer call as mentor eyes Parkhead reunion". Daily Record.
- "Elias Melkersen forced to wait to make Hibs debut amid work permit woes". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
- "Elias Melkersen gets Hibs green light as Norwegian striker's work permit is sorted". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
- "Maloney hails Hauge and Melkersen as Hibs boss calls for more from his young team". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
- "Elias Melkersen reflects on 'amazing' Hibs debut as he discusses adapting to Scottish football". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
- Pilcher, Ross (3 March 2022). "Elias Melkersen admits Hibs debut 'goosebumps'". footballscotland.
- "Melkersen urged to step up for Hibs in Nisbet's absence a Maloney hails striker's hard work". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
- "Elias Melkersen has dream first Hibs start as Bevis Mugabi's first-minute red card sets tone for dramatic Scottish Cup tie". www.scotsman.com.
- "Motherwell 1–2 Hibernian". bbc.co.uk. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- Cassidy, Peter (16 January 2023). "Hibs forward Elias Melkersen joins Sparta Rotterdam on six-month loan". STV Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- "Elias Melkersen: Hibs forward joins Stromsgodset on loan". BBC Sport. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- McPartlin, Patrick (16 June 2023). "International involvement for Hibs pair Elias Melkersen and Rocky Bushiri". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- "Games played by Elias Melkersen in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- "Games played by Elias Melkersen in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- "Games played by Elias Melkersen in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2023.