Daniel Karlsbakk

Rising star

Sarpsborg 08 FF · 23 yrs

46.6

Profile

Full nameDaniel Seland Karlsbakk

PositionAttacking midfielder

NationalityNorway

Age23

Date of birth7 Apr 2003

BirthplaceKristiansand

Height186 cm

Shirt number#11

ClubSarpsborg 08 FF

More about D. Karlsbakk →

Attacking midfielderalso played FWD

Season stats

Full career & schedule →

Appearances

Goals

Assists

2360

Minutes

Domestic-league season · Sarpsborg 08 FF.

Performance data · by competition

Competition	Apps	G	A	Min	Match
Eliteserien	28	18	1	2360	7.1
UEFA U21 Championship - Qualificationat Norway U21	4	1	0	120	—
NM Cupen	1	1	0	32	—

Career

Full career & schedule →

Following his move to Sarpsborg 08 FF, Karlsbakk's current-season form is up 0% on last season (Season 0→61), while his Rating eased 57→47. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Sarpsborg 08 FF	13	4	0	6.6	—	—
2025/26	Sarpsborg 08 FF · 9th	28	18	1	7.1	47	61
2024/25	Heerenveen · 9th	7	0	0	6.44	57	0
2023/24	Heerenveen · 11th	16	1	0	6.59	60	4
2022/23	Heerenveen · 8th	12	0	0	6.33	58	0
2022/23	Viking · 11th	21	2	0	6.58	40	10

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 3 earlier seasons in the full career.

Norway · international

Side	Apps	G
Norway U21	4	1
Norway U19	3	1
Norway U17	3	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Rising starGoal-getting Attacking midfielder

D. Karlsbakk is a 23-year-old attacking midfielder at Sarpsborg 08 FF, enjoying a standout season — 18 goals and 1 assists in 28 appearances, a Season grade of 61, top 3% of Eliteserien centre-forwards. On long-term scout potential he's rated 46.6, ranking 8th of 219 in the Eliteserien. An emerging talent, he has been an ever-present (87.4% of available minutes). He brings 0.73 goal contributions per 90 (0.69 goals, 0.04 assists). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Karlsbakk.

Judged on this season alone, Karlsbakk graded 61 — a standout campaign that ranks top 4% of the 30 centre-forwards in the Eliteserien, on 18 goals and 1 assist in 28 appearances (0.725 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 0 → 61). Across the 5 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 47, top 4% of the 30 centre-forwards in the Eliteserien. At 23 Karlsbakk is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 14 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Karlsbakk is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2025/26StreakyStepped up 2022/234 clubs

Current potentialTop 4% centre-forwards · Eliteserien Current seasonTop 4% centre-forwards · Eliteserien1st-best centre-forward in the Eliteserien8th in the Eliteserien · potential1st-highest potential centre-forward in the Eliteserien

46.6

Ratingi

1st of 30 centre-forwards

61.1

Seasoni

a strong, regular top-tier starter

87.4%

Minutes

near ever-present

0.73

Goal contrib / 90

strong end product

Output in context · Sarpsborg 08 FF finished 9th of 16 · a mid-table side

Goals

Assists

G+A

0.64

Goals / app

18 goals in 28 appearances (0.64 per game) — a 15-goal haul playing for a mid-table side (9th of 16). Add 1 assist for 19 goal contributions in all.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 87.4% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Final-third output. 0.73 goal contributions per 90 (0.69 goals, 0.04 assists) — productive for the role.

Watch points

Defensive numbers. Modest 0.57 defensive actions per 90 for the position.

Outlook

With a Rating of 46.6, Karlsbakk carries the 1st-highest potential of the centre-forwards in the Eliteserien (top 4%). In the final third he profiles as a genuine goal threat (0.73 goal contributions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %87.4%

Available fixtures30 of 30

Goals / 900.686

Assists / 900.038

Goal contribution / 900.725

Defensive actions / 900.572

Player flow

Goal involvements19

Shot conversion %47.4

Shot accuracy %66.7

Dribble success %40

Cards / 900.153

Foul involvement / 903.127

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~14), then tapers with age. At 23, Karlsbakk sits on 14, at or near its peak. The blue line is Karlsbakk's projected Rating — 46.6 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among attacking midfielders in the Eliteserien with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals18

Shots on target38

Shots57

Penalties scored7—

Passing

Assists1

Chances created20—

Passes372—

Possession

Successful dribbles16

Dribble success40%

Duels won90—

Duels won %36%—

Fouls won33

Penalties won2—

Defending

Tackles8

Interceptions4

Blocks3

Fouls committed49

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4

Red cards0

Transfer history

€2.5M total transfer fees · 3 moves

Sarpsborg 08 FF2024/25 – now

Heerenveen2022/23 – 2024/25€ 2.5M

Viking2021/22 – 2022/23Free

Bryneuntil 2021/22

About D. Karlsbakk

Daniel Seland Karlsbakk is a 23-year-old attacking midfielder who plays for Sarpsborg 08 FF, born on April 7, 2003 in Kristiansand, standing 186 cm tall. He is from Norway. Sarpsborg 08 FF currently sit 9th of 16 in the Eliteserien.

This season

In the current season, D. Karlsbakk has made 28 appearances with 18 goals and 1 assist across 2,360 minutes, averaging a 7.03 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 4 yellow cards. His season has spanned the Eliteserien, the UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification and the NM Cupen. Though primarily a attacking midfielder, he has also lined up in attack this season.

When D. Karlsbakk plays, Sarpsborg 08 FF's record this season is 11W-8D-9L — and his match ratings average 7.07 at home against 7.14 on the road.

Recent matches

November 30, 2025: 1-0 win at home vs Molde (74 minutes, 6.9 rating)
November 23, 2025: 3-0 win away at Bryne (90 minutes, 1 goal, 7.3 rating)
November 8, 2025: 0-2 loss at home vs Fredrikstad (90 minutes, 6.6 rating)
October 25, 2025: 2-1 win at home vs KFUM Oslo (90 minutes, 1 goal, 7.5 rating)
October 18, 2025: 2-5 loss at home vs Bodo/Glimt (76 minutes, 1 goal, 7 rating)
October 5, 2025: 3-2 win away at Rosenborg (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
September 27, 2025: 3-3 draw at home vs Viking (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
September 21, 2025: 1-2 loss away at Stromsgodset (90 minutes, 6.6 rating)
September 14, 2025: 2-1 win at home vs Sandefjord (89 minutes, 1 goal, 7.3 rating)
August 31, 2025: 3-1 win away at Ham-Kam (60 minutes, 1 goal, 7.3 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates D. Karlsbakk at 46.6 with a Season form score of 61.1, ranking 8th of 219 attacking midfielders in the Eliteserien. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Availability: D. Karlsbakk has missed 1 match this season through injury.

Career

Across 8 recorded seasons, D. Karlsbakk has totalled 128 club appearances with 30 goals and 1 assist for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 28 appearances for Sarpsborg 08 FF.

D. Karlsbakk's career has also included time at Heerenveen, Viking and Bryne.

On the international stage, D. Karlsbakk has represented Norway U21, Norway U19, Norway U17 — 10 caps and 2 goals in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Sarpsborg 08 FF finished 9th of 16 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points