Brentford sign Iceland goalkeeper Valdimarsson

Brentford has completed the signing of goalkeeper Hákon Valdimarsson from Allsvenskan side Elfsborg, subject to international clearance.The Iceland international has committed to the Bees until June 2028, and the club retains an option to extend his contract by an additional two years.

Valdimarsson, 22, began his professional career in Iceland with Grótta. He moved to Swedish side Elfsborg in July 2021 and has been a regular over the past three seasons.

Valdimarsson was named Goalkeeper of the Year in the Swedish top flight in 2023. He kept more clean sheets than any keeper in the division (13) and had the highest save percentage (78) as Elfsborg finished runners-up to Malmö on goal difference.

The 6ft 4in shot stopper made his full international debut for Iceland against Portugal in November 2023 and has earned four more caps since then.

Valdimarsson is the club’s third first-team signing of the January transfer window, following the arrivals of Turkish midfielder Yunus Emre Konak from Sivasspor and left-back Sergio Reguilón from Tottenham Hotspur.

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank said: “I’m very, very happy that we’ve managed to sign Hákon; there was competition from a lot of other clubs, including some in the Premier League. We are growing as a club, and we have proven that we make players better.

“Hákon is an exciting keeper. He is good at dominating his box, claiming crosses from set-pieces and in open play. His distribution is also at a high level. He fits the way we want to play, which is very important.

“Hákon is coming in to strengthen our goalkeeper group and to compete.

“We are very happy with Mark Flekken - he has settled into the club, the group and the team and we know that there is even more to come from him.

“We are also very satisfied with Thomas Strakosha, who has shown his quality this season and played some important minutes.

“Now we have a younger keeper with big potential coming in to push Mark and Thomas, along with Ellery Balcombe and Matt Cox.”

Manu Sotelo, first-team goalkeeping coach, added: “We are really pleased to be adding Hakon to our goalkeeper union.

“He will come eager to show his current skills: he is an agile, quick and reactive keeper.

“His learning skills are outstanding, so we are looking forward to developing his huge potential.”