Skage Simonsen

Skage Simonsen

Personal information
Full name	Skage Simonsen Lehland
Date of birth	(1998-04-12) 12 April 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Grimstad, Norway
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder Forward
Youth career
0000–2014	Brann
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	St. John's Red Storm	38	(9)
2020–2021	SMU Mustangs	27	(10)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2015	Sandviken	27	(6)
2015–2017	Fana	38	(2)
2017	Os TF	7	(0)
2018	Varegg	5	(1)
2019	Lokomotiv Oslo	6	(5)
2021	NY Pancyprian-Freedoms
2022	Loudoun United	25	(2)
2023	Detroit City	24	(3)
2024	Hartford Athletic	0	(0)
2024	NY Pancyprian-Freedoms
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 January 2024

Skage Simonsen Lehland (born 12 April 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. He was last a part of Hartford Athletic in the USL Championship.

Career

Early career & college

Simonsen played with SK Brann at youth level, ^[1] before joining various lower league clubs in Norway, including Sandviken, Fana, Os TF, Krohnsminde (futsal), and Varegg. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

In 2018, Simonsen moved to the United States to play college soccer at St. John's University. In two seasons in New York, Simonsen made 38 appearances, scoring nine goals and tallying ten assists. He was named Big East Freshman of Year in 2018 and All-Big East Second Team in both seasons. ^[1] Simonsen transferred to Southern Methodist University in 2020, going on to score ten goals and add four assists to his name in 27 appearances for the Mustangs. He was named AAC First Team in both his seasons at SMU. ^[5]

While at college, Simosen also traveled back to Norway during the summers to play with Lokomotiv Oslo, where he made six appearances and scored five goals in the Norwegian Third Division. ^{[6] [2]} In 2021, he played with fifth-tier US side NY Pancyprian-Freedoms. ^[7]

Professional

On 11 January 2022, Simonsen was drafted 69th overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United. ^[8] He signed with D.C. United's USL Championship affiliate side Loudoun United on 8 March 2022. ^{[9] [10]}

On 13 December 2022, Simonsen was announced as a new signing for USL Championship side Detroit City FC ahead of their 2023 season. ^[11]

On 24 January 2024, Simonsen was transferred to Hartford Athletic in exchange for Matthew Sheldon. ^{[12] [13]} On 7 March, his contract was mutually terminated. ^[14]

References

1. "Skage Simonsen - Men's Soccer". St. John's University Athletics.
2. Fotballforbund, Norges. "Skage Simonsen Lehland - Profil". fotball.no - Norges Fotballforbund.
3. Haaland, Bernt-Erik (12 January 2022). "(+) Kjøkkenselgeren fra Skansen blir fotballproff i USA". Bergensavisen.
4. "Skage (21) fra Bergen jakter proffdrømmen i USA. En tidligere Brann-keeper trekker i trådene". www.aftenposten.no. 15 July 2019.
5. "Skage Simonsen - Men's Soccer". SMU Athletics.
6. https://www.lokomotivoslo.no/filer/visprofil.php?brukerid=331
7. "Former NYPF Players Oluwaseyi and Simonsen Picked in 2022 MLS SUPER DRAFT".
8. "D.C. United Select Midfielder Skage Simonsen with the 69th Pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft Presented by adidas | DC United". dcunited.
9. "LOUDOUN UNITED SIGN D.C. UNITED MLS SUPERDRAFT PICK SKAGE SIMONSEN".
10. USLChampionship com Staff (8 March 2022). "Loudoun United Signs Norwegian Midfielder Skage Simonsen". USL Championship.
11. "USL Championship Roster Updates".
12. "2024 USL CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER UPDATES". DetCityFC.com. Detroit City . Retrieved 24 January 2024.
13. Leduc, M. "Hartford Athletic Transfer Defender Matt Sheldon to Detroit City FC". Hartf. Hartford Athletic . Retrieved 24 January 2024.
14. https://www.hartfordathletic.com/news/2024/03/07/hartford-athletic-and-skage-simonsen-mutually-terminate-contract/

External links

• D.C. United profile