Sondre Orjasaeter

So about £6million with add-ons/sell on could maybe swing it?. Well worth a punt.

 

Celtic have reportedly opened talks to sign Sarpsborg winger Sondre Ørjasæter. Analyst Stewart Ross is here with a full scouting report to determine what the Scottish champions would be getting.


According to several sources, including Sky Sports, Brendan Rodgers is keen to add the £7m-rated attacker to his squad this January.

A Norwegian under-21 international, Ørjasæter provided 12 goal contributions (five goals/seven assists) in last year’s Eliteserien as Sarpsborg finished ninth in the Norwegian top-flight.

This scout report will examine the 21-year-old winger in depth, analysing his data and playing style to assess what he would bring to the Celtic attack, should a move to Scotland materialise this month.


Player Profile
Oslo-born Ørjasæter started his career with Stryn IL before joining second-tier side Sogndal in January 2022. His form there alerted Sarpsborg who paid €700k for his services just last January


Capped seven times for Norway at under-21 level, Ørjasæter has had a breakout year for Sarpsborg in the Norwegian top flight, attracting not just the attention of the Scottish Champions but other clubs around Europe, such as Fiorentina, Parma and Nice.

The right-footed Ørjasæter has been used predominately as an inverted winger on the left flank of Sarpsborg's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. In terms of his physical profile, Ørjasæter is a decent size for a winger at 5ft 9in and, although still somewhat slender at 21, he has a pretty athletic build. As will be highlighted in greater detail later in this report, he possesses an impressive pace and is highly mobile.




The chart above, built using Wyscout’s per-90 data converted into percentile ranks, compares Ørjasæter to other wingers and central attacking midfielders in the 2024 Eliteserien (minimum 900 minutes played). Breaking the data into three sections, the chart highlights key metrics that illustrate his playing style and strengths.

Starting with the attacking section, Ørjasæter’s goal-scoring ability stands out well for a young player in his first full season in Norway’s top flight. He netted five non-penalty goals last season, translating to 0.17 goals per 90 minutes – a figure that places him above average for a player in his position. This is particularly impressive given that Sarpsborg finished mid-table in the 16-team Norwegian league.



His scoring efficiency was consistent too, with his actual non-penalty goals per 90 rate just edging his expected goals (xG) value per 90 of 0.15. He averaged 1.93 shots per 90, ranking in the top 25 per cent of players in his position. However, his 0.08 xG per shot suggests he could improve his shot selection, as this figure sits in the bottom 25 percentile.

Regarding crossing, Ørjasæter attempted an average of 1.97 crosses per 90 but excelled in accuracy, completing 43.86 per cent of them – a rate that placed him comfortably in the top quarter of wingers and attacking midfielders in the league.



Dribbling is another area where the 21-year-old stands out. He attempted 6.63 dribbles per 90, ranking among the league’s best for his position, and completed 58.33% of these – good enough to put him in the 75th percentile. Similarly, his progressive runs (4.9 per 90), defined as sustained ball carry that advances play significantly closer to the goal, were among the highest in the Eliteserien.

Despite playing for a team with an average of 50.4 per cent possession during the season, Ørjasæter was fairly involved in his side’s buildup play. His possession-related metrics mostly rank between the 50th and 75th percentiles, highlighting an active on-ball role.

While his through pass accuracy was below average, Ørjasæter’s creativity comes through in other metrics. He ranked highly for key passes (0.59 per 90) and expected assists (xA) at 0.19 per 90, indicating his ability to create chances in the final third.

Defensively, Ørjasæter wasn’t overly active, contesting 4.18 defensive duels per 90. However, when he did engage, his success rate was impressive at 61.98 per cent, placing him above average for his position. Additionally, he ranked just above the 50th percentile for possession-adjusted interceptions, making 3.06 per 90 – a solid enough contribution for an attacking player.


The shot map below from Wyscout, highlighting all of Ørjasæter's attempts over the past calendar year, provides deeper insight into his goal-scoring performance


Ørjasæter heavily favours his right foot when it comes to shooting, 58 of his shots in the last calendar year were with his right compared to just five off his left.

Consistent with his data profile, which highlighted a lower xG per shot, some of the locations of his shots come from lower-quality positions, i.e. further out from the goal, or at more acute angles, backing up the assessment that there is room for improvement when it comes to shot selection. As can also be seen in the placement on goal graphic, there are quite a few central attempts so there is room for improvement here too.

In general, and somewhat unsurprisingly for a player deployed almost exclusively on the left, most of his attempts at goal come from the left side and, although he could improve his shot selection as just mentioned, more of his efforts come from in and around the box on that side.

Looking at the location on the goal graphic again, the bottom right corner is one of his preferred placements. This is again consistent with a player coming in off the left onto his stronger right foot, such as in the below example from one of his two strikes in a 4-2 win at Molde last May.


Ørjasæter got into position to finish on that occasion during a Sarpsborg counterattack thanks to his speed. His pace makes him a major threat in transition moments and often gets him into these goal-scoring positions. Another example of this is shown below.



Here, in an away match at Brann, Ørjasæter showcased his speed without the ball, driving through the middle of the pitch as his teammate carried the ball forward on the right side.




Outpacing the nearest defender with ease, the young winger gets into position to receive the ball from his teammates before showing nice composure to sidestep the recovering opposition player and then slot home under the onrushing goalkeeper.



Chance Creation
Ørjasæter’s ability to create opportunities for his teammates stands out prominently in his data profile. The graphic below from Wyscout provides a detailed breakdown of his shot-assist actions, with the majority originating from his favoured left-side half-space





When it comes to chance quality, Ørjasæter’s expected assists (xA) per shot assist across all competitions over the past calendar year stands at an impressive 0.25, according to data included in the graphic. This highlights his ability to provide high-quality opportunities for his teammates.



A significant proportion of Ørjasæter’s assists have come from long, diagonal deliveries into central or back-post areas. One such example is shown below. Here, Ørjasæter cuts inside to open up the pitch before curling a precise cross into the box. The delivery finds former Celtic loanee Jo Inge Berget just outside the six-yard box.





While his long diagonal passes are a key feature, Ørjasæter also demonstrates versatility in his chance creation. He also delivers cutbacks from higher positions in the final third, showcasing his adaptability and composure in these scenarios.

For a player only one season into his top-flight career, Ørjasæter displays impressive decision-making in these scenarios. An excellent example of this is shown below.


Here, as the ball drops to him in the box following a failed clearance by the opposition, Ørjasæter demonstrates his awareness and ability to disguise his intentions. Instead of taking an instinctive shot – something many young players might opt for – he quickly adjusts his body to play a nicely weighted pass across the box, setting up a higher-quality chance for his teammate.





Ball-carrying
What enables Ørjasæter to consistently get into dangerous positions – both to create chances and take shots – is his exceptional dribbling ability.

While his pace makes him a significant threat in open play, it’s his agility and balance that allows him to excel in tighter 1v1 situations. Ørjasæter is adept at shifting his weight effortlessly, combining sharp movements with quick accelerations to beat defenders and create space for himself.


The above graphic from Wyscout provides further insight into Ørjasæter’s dribbling impact, particularly in the final third. Over the past year, he has averaged just under four successful dribbles per 90 minutes, retaining possession an impressive 80.5% of the time after a dribble. His dribbling has directly contributed to 26 shots, generating 5.11 xG and leading to six goals for Sarpsborg.

Rather than relying on overly flashy tricks, Ørjasæter uses simple feints and sharp changes of direction to create space. An example of this can be seen below.



Here, Ørjasæter receives the ball in his preferred left half-space. Faking a shot, he quickly chops the ball back across his body, causing the onrushing defender to commit to a block and effectively eliminating them from the play.






With space opened up, Ørjasæter unleashes a powerful right-footed shot that beats the goalkeeper and nestles into the bottom left corner.

Ørjasæter’s tendency to cut inside onto his stronger right foot from the left is reminiscent of Luis Palma’s playing style. However, Ørjasæter brings a different dimension to 1v1 situations with his superior explosiveness and agility. He is more adept at dropping a shoulder to beat his marker, which has proven highly effective in the Norwegian league.

That said, this aspect of his game would, of course, be stress-tested if he were to join Celtic where he would be competing against better-organised and more physical defenders in Scotland – and in Europe too

Off-the-ball
As highlighted in his data profile, Ørjasæter’s defensive metrics – such as his defensive duels, win percentage and possession-adjusted interceptions – generally ranked around average when compared to other wingers and central attacking midfielders in the Eliteserien. The graphic below offers a deeper look into his off-the-ball contributions, specifically mapping his recoveries in the final third over the past year.





Here we can see Ørjasæter has averaged 1.55 recoveries in the final third in the last year and registered 0.62 dangerous recovers per 90. Many of these recoveries have come on that left-hand side but most (19) have been made in the central area outside the box (Zone 14). That has led to two goals in the last year with a further goal coming after a recovery from Ørjasæter in the penalty area.

He certainly does not shirk his defensive responsibilities and works back well into his own half to contribute defensively, as well as pressing the game from the front. Aggressive out-of-possession, he is willing to get stuck in to win the ball back for his team and will often slide into tackles to block the ball up the line.

There are occasions where he can be a little over-eager when it comes to his work out-of-possession, at times over-committing. These are areas that can, of course, be worked on easily as he develops. His willingness is certainly not in question when it comes to working off the ball. Given Rodgers’ emphasis without the ball, it is easy to see why he has been identified by the recruitment department at the club.



Sondre Ørjasæter is an exciting young talent whose dynamic playing style could bring a fresh dimension to Celtic’s attack, particularly on the left flank, where the team has relied heavily on Daizen Maeda. While Maeda has been enjoying a fine season, his primary strength still lies in his defensive contributions and how he attacks space in behind without the ball. Ørjasæter, in contrast, would offer a different type of threat with creativity and exceptional ability in 1v1 situations.

Among Celtic’s current wingers, Ørjasæter’s profile is perhaps most similar to Nicolas Kuhn, offering a comparable mix of speed and directness. Ørjasæter’s preference for cutting inside onto his stronger right foot makes him suited to pairing with a more traditional full-back who could exploit the space he leaves wide to deliver from deeper areas. Perhaps the club have a particular left-back in mind for that role…

While Ørjasæter’s game has areas for refinement, such as improving his shot selection and tempering his occasional over-eagerness out of possession, his raw talent and work ethic suggest he could thrive under Brendan Rodgers’ guidance.

If a deal materialises, Ørjasæter would immediately strengthen the winger department of the team where, aside from Maeda, and Kuhn on the opposite side, Celtic currently lack quality depth. Given time, he would also have the potential to develop into a pivotal figure in the team’s pursuit of sustained domestic success and European progress

 

The experience we had with holm think I’ll just wait until he plays to decide if it’s a good signing or not


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Holm is clearly a very talented prospect but for whatever reason he doesn't have the mentality for our club. This guy is rated just as highly or even higher but seems to have the right mentality to succeed and get better so I'm sure he will slot in finely.

 

There are a lot of players who would slot in finely at Celtic park.
But I am not convinced we are after this guy.

I think we have bigger fish to fry.

 

This deal looks the most likely compared to Toure or the boy from Villa as both of them would cost at least £10 million each. Either way we are in a dire need for a quality winger and I think this guy ticks most boxes.

 

Can’t be * seeing that constantly misspelled on here. Pass.

 

Il be guilty of that

 

Me too Mike.

 

All the scouting reports and analysis looks like he’s a fantastic prospect and his highlights look great too.

There is a reason a host of top clubs are after him.

Would be exciting by this

 

He'll be gettin called Sandra.

Easy days...

 

You son of a *, I’m in.