Stefan Johansen, the former Queens Park Rangers midfielder, has officially signed a two-year contract with Norwegian top-flight club Sarpsborg 08, confirming recent speculation.
Johansen will make his first appearance in his homeland in over a decade, having spent the past ten years in Britain since his move from Stromsgodset to Celtic in 2014. He later played for Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, and most recently, QPR.
During his time in England and Scotland, the former Norway national team captain achieved significant success, including three Premiership titles with Celtic and two promotions to the Premier League with Fulham via the Championship playoffs.
After returning to the Premier League with Fulham in 2020, Johansen was loaned to QPR, where he impressed during his temporary stint. He eventually signed permanently for the club for a reported fee of £600,000 on a three-year contract.
In 2021, Johansen assumed the captaincy at Loftus Road and went on to represent QPR in 88 matches across various competitions, contributing six goals and 13 assists. Despite having one more year left on his contract, both parties mutually agreed to terminate the agreement last summer.
Following his departure, the seasoned midfielder addressed the club’s media team, reassuring fans that there were no hard feelings surrounding the decision:
“I harbor no resentment whatsoever; after discussions with the club, we concluded it’s time for a change. It’s a decision that benefits all involved. While I’ve cherished my time here, I do regret not achieving the primary goal I set out for, which was promotion to the Premier League.”
Since his departure in June, Johansen has been without a club. While he may not be match-fit currently, the Eliteserien season doesn’t commence until April, affording him ample time to regain fitness.
“My physical condition is decent. With five to six weeks until the season begins, it’s the longest preseason I’ve had in years. I’ve already engaged with part of the physical team, and we have a promising plan in place,” he conveyed to Sarpsborg.
writer’s opinion
Johansen swiftly endeared himself to Queens Park Rangers fans during his loan spell almost four years ago, and his eventual captaincy felt almost inevitable. He leaves behind a legacy of memorable performances, particularly notable given the challenges faced by Rangers during his time there.
However, at 33 years old as of January, it’s understandable that Johansen has opted to return home to Norway, possibly for the remainder of his career.
