After a challenging spell abroad, striker Daniel Karlsbakk has made a significant return to Norwegian football in the Eliteserien 2025 season, joining Sarpsborg 08 Fotballforening. His move marks a new chapter for the young forward, who is quickly rediscovering his form and impact in his home country.
Troubles in the Netherlands
Before his return, Karlsbakk played for SC Heerenveen in the Netherlands. He signed a contract with Heerenveen on January 31, 2023, until 2026.
During his time at Heerenveen, he made his debut in the KNVB Cup against NAC Breda on February 7, 2023, and his Eredivisie debut a few days later against Feyenoord.
However, his experience in the Netherlands didn’t unfold as he had hoped. Karlsbakk described the move as an enormous experience that didn’t go as he wished.
While it provided learning opportunities regarding foreign football culture and professionalism, it wasn’t ideal, especially towards the end. At 21 years old, he wanted to play regularly and contribute, and sitting on the bench caused his motivation, enjoyment, and self-confidence to wane, making the period tough but very educational. He stated that he now knows better how he would handle a similar situation.
Returning to the homeland
His return to Norway saw him join Sarpsborg 08. He signed a contract with the club until December 31, 2028, having joined on January 30, 2025. This move appears to be exactly what he needed to reignite his career.
Since joining Sarpsborg 08 for the Eliteserien 2025 season, Karlsbakk has quickly made an impact. According to statistics current as of April 27, 2025, he has played 4 league games and scored 5 goals for Sarpsborg 08. Additionally, he has played 1 cup game and scored 2 goals, bringing his total appearances to 5 with 7 goals. This contrasts sharply with his goal tally at Heerenveen, where he scored only 1 league goal in 35 appearances.
This prolific start to this Norwegian season is a clear sign of his renewed confidence and form.
Karlsbakk is described as a “kraftspissen” (power forward) for Sarpsborg 08. He hopes to provide the fans with plenty to cheer about through his power and pressure in the game. Outside of football, he is someone who enjoys contributing to a good atmosphere with laughter and positivity, actively seeking things to do rather than just relaxing. He feels it’s important not to be overly serious all the time.
A specific highlight for Karlsbakk is the derby against Fredrikstad. He finds derbies incredibly exciting and, having seen clips from past Sarpsborg – Fredrikstad matches, feels a strong desire to win them. “It just makes me want to beat them, you know!” he remarked about the derby.
His strong start to the season in Eliteserien 2025 makes him a player to watch, not just for Sarpsborg 08 FF standings or the general eliteserien tabeller, but also for those interested in eliteserien fantasy. Players who perform well, like Karlsbakk with his impressive early goal-scoring record, are often key considerations on a fantasy football hub.
Sarpsborg 08 recently secured a valuable away point against Viking in Stavanger, a match where Karlsbakk had scoring opportunities. He also scored in the defeat against Strømsgodset, heading in a corner in the 89th minute. His contribution is clearly vital to the team’s attack.
His signing, described as a “winter signing”, came from Groningen in Dutch football, though other sources indicate his previous club was Heerenveen. Regardless, his challenging experience in the Netherlands seems to have fueled his determination upon returning to Norway.
Daniel Karlsbakk’s return to Sarpsborg 08 has been nothing short of triumphant so far. His goal-scoring record in the initial games of the Eliteserien 2025 season demonstrates that he is back to performing at a high level, eager to contribute significantly to his new club and leave the struggles of his Dutch spell behind him.
doragon sports 