Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Aberdeen.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Premiership | 14 | 1 | 0 | 663 | 6.77 |
 UEFA Europa Conference League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 6.75 |
Scout report
S. Heltne Nilsen is a 34-year-old defensive midfielder at Aberdeen, enjoying a standout season — 1 goals and 0 assists in 14 appearances, a Season grade of 10, top 88% of Premiership defensive midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 8.9, ranking 223rd of 225 in the Premiership. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member (19.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 4.34 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Nilsen.
Judged on this season alone, Nilsen graded 10 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 35th of 40 of the 40 defensive midfielders in the Premiership, on 1 goal, 0 assists and 4.344 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 18 → 10). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 9, 39th of 40 of the 40 defensive midfielders in the Premiership. At 34 Nilsen is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 1 reflects that trajectory.
Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.
Output in context · Aberdeen finished 8th of 12 · a mid-table side
4.34 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 14 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Defensive volume. 4.34 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.
Watch points
- Game time. Only 19.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
- Age curve. At 34, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 8.9, Nilsen carries the 39th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Premiership of 40 — though on just 14 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (4.34 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.6× and falling).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
