Kristian Pedersen
Danish footballer (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kristian Majdahl Pedersen (born 4 August 1994) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a defender for FC Fredericia in the Danish Superliga.
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Pedersen with Union Berlin in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kristian Majdahl Pedersen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 4 August 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Ringsted, Denmark | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | FC Fredericia | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Benløse IF | 0 | (0) | |
| –2014 | Ringsted IF | ||
| 2014–2016 | HB Køge | 58 | (2) |
| 2016–2018 | Union Berlin | 61 | (1) |
| 2018–2022 | Birmingham City | 155 | (9) |
| 2022–2023 | 1. FC Köln | 6 | (0) |
| 2023–2025 | Swansea City | 4 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2025– | FC Fredericia | 2 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2016 | Denmark U21 | 5 | (0) |
| 2020 | Denmark | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 December 2025 | |||
He has represented his country at under-21 level,[2] and made his senior debut in 2020.
Club career
Pedersen started his early career at Benløse IF, before moving to fourth division side Ringsted IF.
HB Køge
Pedersen signed for HB Køge on 24 July 2014 under head coach Henrik Pedersen. His debut for HB Køge came on 25 July 2014 when he came on as a substitute with the score at 1–1 on the first day of the first division in the away game at Skive IK in the 77th minute. On 19 April 2015, he scored his first goal for HBK against AB in a 3–0 win.
In the 2015–16 winter break he joined German Bundesliga side Borussia Moenchengladbach on trial but a move did not materialise. In the second half he came for HB Køge to twelve games in the Danish second division.
Pedersen went on to play on more than 50 occasions for the club, scoring twice in total, against AB and Skive.
Union Berlin
Following two seasons at Køge, Pedersen signed for 2. Bundesliga side Union Berlin in 2016. on a three-year deal.[3] He made his debut for Union Berlin on 6 August 2016 against VfL Bochum in a 2–1 defeat.[4] 30 September 2016, Pedersen received a red card against 1. FC Nürnberg.[4]
He scored his first goal for Union Berlin on 24 February 2018, in a 2–1 win against SV Sandhausen.[4]
Birmingham City
Pedersen signed a four-year contract with English Championship (second-tier) club Birmingham City on 25 June 2018; the fee was undisclosed.[5] However, Birmingham's unaddressed Financial Fair Play issues left the English Football League (EFL) "exceptionally disappointed" that the club had nevertheless proceeded with a purchase, and they refused to register him. Two days before the season was due to start, and "after consideration of the legal position as between the Club, Player and the EFL", an agreement was reached such that Pedersen's registration was allowed.[6] He made his debut on the opening day, starting at left back in a 2–2 draw at home to Norwich City.[7]
1. FC Köln
In July 2022, Pedersen joined 1. FC Köln on a free transfer.[8]
Swansea City
Pedersen signed a two-year contract with Championship club Swansea City on 1 September 2023; the fee was undisclosed.[9]
Having played little, in part because of injury, Pedersen joined divisional rivals Sheffield Wednesday on 1 February 2024 on loan for the remainder of the season.[10] He made his debut that weekend starting in the 4–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town.[11] Pedersen would also struggle for game time at Sheffield Wednesday, although it was again partly because of injury.[12] He made just four appearances during his time on loan, with his only start having come during his debut against Huddersfield.[13]
Upon returning to Swansea City, Pedersen would make just two more appearances for the club in the following season.[14] Both of these would come in August and in the EFL Cup. Although Pedersen had already struggled to dislodge Ben Cabango and Harry Darling in Swansea's defence, this would be another season which was heavily affected by injuries. He faced two significant spells on the sidelines; the first being a hamstring injury from September until late October, and the second having come from hamstring surgery which kept him out of action from December until late April.[15][16][17][18]
Pedersen was released by Swansea at the end of the 2024-25 season, having made seven appearances in all competitions.[19]
FC Fredericia
On 17 September 2025, Pedersen signed with newly promoted Danish Superliga club FC Fredericia.[20]
International career
Pedersen has represented Denmark U-21's, making his debut in 2016 against Ukraine.
Pedersen made his senior international debut on 7 October 2020 in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands.[21]
Career statistics
- As of match played 31 August 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| HB Køge | 2014–15[22][23] | Danish 1st Division | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2015–16[22][24] | Danish 1st Division | 30 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 33 | 2 | |||
| Total | 58 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 64 | 3 | ||||
| Union Berlin | 2016–17[22] | 2. Bundesliga | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[22] | 2. Bundesliga | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 1 | |||
| Total | 61 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 64 | 1 | ||||
| Birmingham City | 2018–19[25] | EFL Championship | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |
| 2019–20[26] | EFL Championship | 44 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 48 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21[27] | EFL Championship | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22[28] | EFL Championship | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 2 | ||
| Total | 155 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 161 | 9 | |||
| 1. FC Köln | 2022–23[22] | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7[c] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[22] | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| Swansea City | 2023–24[13] | EFL Championship | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[14] | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 2023–24[13] | EFL Championship | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 288 | 12 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 314 | 13 | ||
- Includes Danish Cup, DFB-Pokal and FA Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
