Jesper Karlsson, born on 25 July 1998 in Sweden, is a versatile forward currently plying his trade with FC Utrecht. Known to predominantly occupy the left-wing position, he sports the number 11 jersey. Standing at 5ft 10in (1.78m) and weighing roughly 11st 2lb (71kg), he offers a solid presence on the field.
Karlsson's current market value is estimated at around £4.00m, as reported by Transfermarkt. His journey in professional football began in January 2016 when he joined Falkenbergs FF in the Superettan league in Sweden as a trainee. Showing promise, he scored seven goals from 26 first team appearances in his debut season.
In January 2017, he moved to IF Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan in Sweden for an undisclosed fee, assembling quite a respectable record. Over the next four seasons, he made multiple appearances, scoring considerably in the process, particularly during the 2020 season when he netted 11 goals from 22 appearances.
An opportunity abroad presented itself in September 2020, with a switch to AZ in the Eredivisie, Netherlands. This move cost the Dutch side a fee of around £2.4m, and Karlsson repaid that faith by accruing various goals across three seasons and a multitude of appearances.
The next chapter in his career unfolded in Italy, with a transfer to Serie A side Bologna in August 2023. His time in Italy was split between Bologna and a loan spell at Lecce, followed by the completion of another loan spell in the Premiership with Aberdeen in Scotland. His loan stint with Aberdeen in the current 2025-2026 season saw him score five goals from 18 first team appearances.
Upon completion of his loan spell in Scotland, Karlsson returned to Bologna in January 2026 before immediately heading to FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie in Netherlands. He boasts one first team appearance this current season with his new Dutch employers.
