Jesper Karlsson joins the Rossoblù

Bologna FC 1909 is delighted to announce the signing of forward Jesper Karlsson from Alkmaar Zaanstreek.

The tenth Swedish player in Club history, Jesper – born in 1998 – is a technically-gifted and pacey forward. Karlsson is a versatile and explosive winger, able to play on both flanks. After breaking through at his hometown club Falkenbergs FF and then four seasons of development at IF Elfsborg, he moved to AZ and it was in the Netherlands where he really burst onto the scene.

He immediately slotted into the attacking trio at Alkmaar and, for three seasons, he was a key member in one of the most competitive sides in the Eredivisie. He is a brilliant free-kick taker equipped with a technical arsenal that makes him highly unpredictable for opposition defenders, rounded off with a keen eye for goal. A courageous player, he loves to have the ball at his feet and make plays both inside and outside the box. He was involved in almost half of his team’s goals between 2020 and 2023 while also playing in European football. In that time, he also made his full international debut and caught the eye of various big European clubs, becoming one of the hottest transfer prospects in each window. He finished his stint in the Netherlands with 46 goals in 123 appearances in all competitions.