Lisa Naalsund

Lisa Naalsund
Naalsund with Manchester United in 2025
Personal information
Full name Lisa Fjeldstad Naalsund
Date of birth (1995-06-11) 11 June 1995 (age 31)
Place of birth Bergen, Norway
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Birmingham City
Number 8
Youth career
2002–2011 Tertnes
2012 Arna-Bjørnar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2018 Arna-Bjørnar 139 (33)
2019–2022 Brann 77 (14)
2023–2026 Manchester United 42 (5)
2026– Birmingham City 5 (0)
International career‡
2010 Norway U15 3 (0)
2011 Norway U16 9 (2)
2011–2012 Norway U17 8 (0)
2012–2014 Norway U19 29 (2)
2015–2019 Norway U23 16 (1)
2021– Norway 41 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 October 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 October 2026

Lisa Fjeldstad Naalsund (Norwegian: [ˈliːsa ˈfjɛlstad ˈnɔːlsʉn]; born 11 June 1995) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English Women's Super League club Birmingham City and the Norway national team.

Club career

Arna-Bjørnar

Naalsund began playing football at the age of 6 for local club Tertnes. She also played handball until secondary school. Ahead of the 2012 season, she joined Arna-Bjørnar. On 14 April 2012, Naalsund made her senior debut for the club when she started the season opener, a 1–1 draw with Røa IL. She played 67 minutes before being substituted for fellow offseason arrival Vilde Bøe Risa, also making her senior debut. She scored her first senior goal on 9 June 2012 during a 2–0 win over Klepp IL. In her first season with the club, Naalsund played in all 22 Toppserien matches including 18 starts and scored four goals. During her first three seasons, Naalsund played in all but one league match as Arna-Bjørnar finished third in all three seasons, equalling the team's record highest finish position. In seven years, Naalsund was a mainstay of Arna-Bjørnar and made 157 appearances in all competitions.[citation needed]

Sandviken/Brann

Ahead of the 2019 season, Naalsund signed for Sandviken (rebranded Brann in 2022). In 2020, Naalsund made 18 league appearances as she was named to the Toppserien Team of the Year. Having previously recorded a team-record best 4th-place finish the previous three seasons in a row, Sandviken won the 2021 Toppserien league title for the first time. Naalsund was once again named to the team of the season having made 18 appearances and scored five goals. In 2022, the team defended their league title and also won the Norwegian Women's Cup for the first time.[citation needed]

Manchester United

On 24 January 2023, Naalsund signed for English Women's Super League club Manchester United on a three-and-a-half-year contract. Having joined while working through fitness issues, Naalsund had to wait until 19 March 2023 to make her debut, starting in an FA Cup quarter-final against second division team Lewes. She started the game but was substituted off after 25 minutes with a hamstring problem. She scored her first goal for the club during a UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying match against Paris Saint-Germain on 18 October 2023.

Birmingham City

On 15 July 2026, it was announced that Naalsund had signed for newly promoted WSL club Birmingham City on a reported three-year contract.

International career

Youth

Naalsund first represented Norway at under-15 level in 2010. She continued to progress as a youth international, participating in 2012 UEFA Under-17 Championship qualification and attended her first tournament finals stage at the 2013 UEFA Under-19 Championship. The following year she was recalled to the squad as Norway hosted the 2014 UEFA Under-19 Championship.[citation needed]

Senior

In November 2017, Naalsund received her first senior international call-up for Norway for a friendly against Canada but was an unused substitute.

Having yet to be capped, Naalsund was named as an injury replacement for Emilie Haavi for the 2019 FIFA World Cup. However, due to squad regulations, Naalsund could not be registered and had to remain a training player ineligible to play in the tournament.

Naalsund made her senior international debut for the Norway on 10 June 2021, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute for Vilde Bøe Risa in a friendly 1–0 loss against Sweden.

On 7 June 2022, Naalsund was named to the squad for UEFA Euro 2022. However, she suffered a leg injury during a pre-tournament friendly against New Zealand on 25 June and was replaced by Thea Bjelde.

On 16 June 2025, Naalsund was called up to the Norway squad for the UEFA Euro 2025.

Personal life

On 18 June 2026, she got engaged to Manchester United and Birmingham City teammate Millie Turner.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 October 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arna-Bjørnar 2012 Toppserien 22440——264
2013 21130——241
2014 22620——246
2015 10410——114
2016 21721——238
2017 21430——244
2018 22731——258
Total 13933182000015735
Brann 2019 Toppserien 22523——248
2020 18331——214
2021 18550——235
2022 19150—40281
Total 771415400409618
Manchester United 2022–23 WSL 101000—20
2023–24 172414121275
2024–25 802010—110
2025–26 1632030130343
Total 4259181151748
Birmingham City 2026–27 Women's Super League 500010—60
Career total 263524279119133361

International

As of match played 13 October 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway 2021 30
2022 60
2023 50
2024 91
2025 100
2026 81
Total 412
Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Naalsund goal.
List of international goals scored by Lisa Naalsund
No. Date Cap Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 29 October 2024 23 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Albania 2–0 9–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs
2 3 March 2026 34 Datenpol Arena, Maria Enzersdorf, Austria  Austria 1–0 1–0 2027 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Sandviken/Brann

Manchester United

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Lisa Naalsund at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. ↑ "Lisa Naalsund". World Football. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  3. ↑ "Uttak, talentleir fotball". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). 26 May 2010. p. 46.
  4. 1 2 Larsen, Alexander (5 October 2020). "Lisa Naalsund: Drømmen om utlandet og landslagsspill". Norske Fotballkvinner (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Røa - Arna-Bjørnar - 14.04.2012 15.00". Norges Fotballforbund (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Lisa Naalsund - Soccerway". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sandviken henter tre nye spillere fra byrival Arna-Bjørnar". www.aftenposten.no (in Norwegian). 20 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Emilie Haavi kåres til Årets spiller av NTB og OBOS". Toppserien (in Norwegian). 17 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Årets lag i Toppserien 2021". Norske Fotballkvinner (in Norwegian). 15 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "United Women sign Lisa Naalsund". www.manutd.com. 24 January 2023. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Hill, Courtney (19 March 2023). "Report: Lewes 1 United Women 3". www.manutd.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Women's Champions League: Manchester United miss out on group stage after loss to Paris St-Germain". BBC Sport. 18 October 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "Blues Women complete signing of Lisa Naalsund". Birmingham City F.C. 15 July 2026. Archived from the original on 16 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  14. ↑ Bradshaw, Joe; Sanders, Emma (15 July 2026). "Birmingham sign Man Utd's Turner and Naalsund". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Christensen, Stine (10 November 2017). "Tatt ut til sin første landskamp". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Canada vs. Norway - 28 November 2017 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "No har nesten halvparten av VM-spelarane vore i Arna-Bjørnar". www.aftenposten.no (in Norwegian). 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Sweden vs Norway". Global Sports Archive. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Se Norges EM-tropp". Norges Fotballforbund (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  20. ↑ "Lisa Naalsund mister EM etter strekkskade". Norges Fotballforbund (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  21. ↑ "Her er Norges EM-tropp" [Here is Norway's European Championship squad] (in Norwegian). Norwegian Football Federation. 16 June 2025. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  22. ↑ @millturner_; (24 June 2026). "One perfect safari, two perfect yes's 💍 The elephants saw it first 🐘 18.06.26" – via Instagram.
  23. ↑ "Millie and Lisa, we're so happy for you". www.manutd.com. 25 June 2026. Archived from the original on 25 June 2026. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Lisa Naalsund - Profil". Norges Fotballforbund (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  25. ↑ "Norway-Albania". UEFA. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  26. ↑ Sanders, Emma (12 May 2024). "Women's FA Cup final: Manchester United beat Tottenham to win first major trophy". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  27. ↑ Wrack, Suzanne (14 May 2023). "Chelsea claim FA Cup hat-trick after Sam Kerr sees off Manchester United". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  28. ↑ Sanders, Emma (18 May 2025). "Chelsea seal treble with FA Cup win over Man Utd". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  29. ↑ Sanders, Emma (15 March 2026). "Chelsea 2-0 Manchester United: Lauren James and Aggie-Beever Jones score in League Cup final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 15 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.