Jóan Símun Edmundsson
Faroese footballer (born 1991)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jóan Símun Edmundsson (born 26 July 1991) is a Faroese professional footballer who plays for Icelandic club KA Akureyri and the Faroe Islands national team.
|
Edmundsson lining up for the Faroe Islands in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jóan Símun Edmundsson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 July 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Toftir, Faroe Islands | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | KA Akureyri | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| B68 Toftir | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | B68 Toftir | 49 | (10) |
| 2010 | → Newcastle United (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | Newcastle United | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Gateshead (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Viking | 8 | (0) |
| 2012 | → Fredericia (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2014 | AB | 9 | (2) |
| 2014–2015 | HB | 11 | (6) |
| 2015 | Vejle Boldklub | 26 | (10) |
| 2016–2018 | OB | 58 | (11) |
| 2018–2021 | Arminia Bielefeld | 51 | (10) |
| 2021–2023 | Beveren | 17 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | KA Akureyri | 10 | (2) |
| 2024–2025 | KF Shkupi | 14 | (1) |
| 2025– | KA Akureyri | 28 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | Faroe Islands U17 | 9 | (0) |
| 2008 | Faroe Islands U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Faroe Islands U21 | 9 | (3) |
| 2009– | Faroe Islands | 100 | (8) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 July 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:58, 18 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
He is Faroe Islands national team most capped player.
Club career
B68 Toftir
Edmundsson started his career with B68 Toftir.
Newcastle United
In December 2009, Edmundsson joined Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent deal, after a successful trial during a reserve friendly against Hibernian.[2] He signed a permanent deal in June as a hot prospect for the future.[3] He made his first team debut for Newcastle in a friendly against Norwich City on 25 July 2010.[4]
On 7 January 2011, Edmundsson joined Gateshead on a 28-day loan.[5] He made his Gateshead debut on 8 January 2011 against Kidderminster Harriers.[6] He scored his first goal for Gateshead on 15 January 2011 in the FA Trophy in a 6–0 win against Hampton & Richmond Borough.[7]
He featured regularly for the reserves between 2010 and 2012; however, he failed to reach first team football for Newcastle.
Viking and return to Faroe Islands
Edmundsson signed for Viking Stavanger on 15 February 2012.[8]
Following his stint at Viking he returned to the Faroe Islands playing for AB and HB.
Vejle and OB in Denmark
In December 2014 Edmundsson signed a two-year contract with Vejle Boldklub.[9]
In January 2016 Edmundsson signed a 2.5-year contract with Danish Superliga club Odense Boldklub.[10]
On 28 November 2015, Edmundsson scored what Danish TV3+ commentators later dubbed as "The Goal of the Century" in Danish football, and made comparisons with high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, George Best and Diego Maradona.[11] In a 1–3 loss against Silkeborg IF in the Danish 1st Division, Edmundsson shook off most of the Silkeborg midfielders, and danced through the middle into the box, evading three more challenges, before hitting a placed shot in the back of the net.[12]
In December 2015, Edmundsson won the TV3+ "Best Goal of the Year award", beating notable players such as Neymar and Lionel Messi.[13]
Arminia Bielefeld
In May 2018, it was announced Edmundsson would join 2. Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld from Odense BK for the 2018–19 season having agreed a contract until summer 2020.[14][15] On 6 August 2018, Edmundsson became the first Faroese goalscorer in German professional football when he scored in his debut against FC Heidenheim.[16]
On 26 September 2020, Edmundsson made his debut in the Bundesliga against 1. FC Köln. Having come from the bench for Sergio Córdova in the second half, he scored the winning goal, becoming the first Faroese to ever play and score in the Bundesliga.[17]
On 30 June 2021, Edmundsson was released by Arminia Bielefeld after reaching the end of his contract.
Beveren
International career
Edmundsson was capped at under-19, under-21, during which he scored a memorable goal in a shock 1–0 win over Russia, and full international level while playing in his homeland, making his debut for the Faroe Islands against France in August 2009. He scored his first senior goal in the 2–1 defeat to Estonia on 11 August 2010, this was the first goal of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying.[19]
On 14 November 2014, he scored the only goal of the game to defeat Greece in Piraeus, the Faroes' first competitive victory since June 2011.[20]
On 9 June 2025, he made his 95th appearance with the Faroe Islands in a 2–1 win over Gibraltar, equalling the tally of Fróði Benjaminsen to become with the latter Faroe Islands' joint most capped player.[21]
On 5 September 2025, he played his 96th international game in a 1–0 defeat against Croatia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification game, becoming the Faroe Islands sole most capped player.[22] Later that year, on 18 November, he became the first player to have made 100 international caps for the Faroe Islands in a non-competitive 1–0 win over Kazakhstan.[23]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| B68 Toftir | 2008 | Effodeildin | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 4 |
| 2009 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 6 | ||
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 48 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 10 | ||
| Newcastle United (loan) | 2009–10 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Newcastle United | 2010–11 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Gateshead (loan) | 2010–11 | Conference Premier | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Viking | 2012 | Tippeligaen | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Total | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||
| Fredericia (loan) | 2012–13 | 1. Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| AB | 2014 | Effodeildin | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| HB | 2015 | Effodeildin | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4[b] | 1 | 15 | 7 |
| Vejle | 2014–15 | 1. Division | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 3 | |
| 2015–16 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 7 | |||
| Total | 26 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 10 | ||
| OB | 2015–16 | Superligaen | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | 29 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 9 | ||
| 2017–18 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||
| Total | 58 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 11 | ||
| Arminia Bielefeld | 2018–19 | 2. Bundesliga | 24 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 4 |
| 2019–20 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 5 | ||
| 2020–21 | Bundesliga | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 51 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 10 | ||
| Career total | 223 | 49 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 238 | 52 | ||
- Appearances in the Champions League
International
- As of match played 18 November 2025[25]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faroe Islands | 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | 8 | |
- Scores and results list Faroe Islands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Edmundsson goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 August 2010 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia |  Estonia | 1–0 | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualification |
| 2 | 1 March 2014 | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar |  Gibraltar | 1–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 14 November 2014 | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece |  Greece | 1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 4 | 4 September 2015 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands |  Northern Ireland | 1–1 | 1–3 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 5 | 28 March 2016 | Estadio Municipal de Marbella, Marbella, Spain |  Liechtenstein | 2–0 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 6 | 7 October 2016 | Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia |  Latvia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 7 September 2018 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands |  Malta | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D |
| 8 | 25 September 2022 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands |  Turkey | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C |
