Emil Krafth

Emil Henry Kristoffer Krafth (born 2 August 1994) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a right-back or centre-back for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Sweden national team.

It was with Lagans AIK that he made his senior debut in 2010, aged just 16.

In 2011, he joined Östers IF in Superettan.

Krafth debuted for the club at 17 years old, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 win against GIF Sundsvall in the opening game of the season.

He quickly became a first team regular for the side, playing in either the defender ad midfield positions and impressed in his first season in the Superettan.

For his performance at one point, Krafth was named Tipselit Player of the Month for June.

Krafth was also named Sveriges Radio Kronoberg Prize for "Sports Surprise of the Year 2011".

At the end of the 2011 season, Krafth made thirty–five appearances in all competitions.

Following this, Krafth was linked a move away from Östers IF, as he went on trials, such as, Rangers and Malmö.

Krafth earned a move to Allsvenskan side Helsingborgs IF on 10 January 2012.

Upon joining the club, he was given number fifteen shirt.

Krafth appeared as an unused substitute in Helsingborgs’ first match of the 2012 season, in a 2–0 win over AIK in the Svenska Supercupen.

A month later on 27 April 2012 against Mjällby, he made his Helsingborgs debut, starting the whole game, in a 1–1 draw.

After the match, Krafth's performance was praised by Manager Conny Karlsson.

He then appeared in the next three matches for the side, keeping two out of the three clean sheets.

However, Krafth suffered an injury that kept him out for weeks and didn't make an appearance until on 28 July 2012 against IFK Norrköping, where he set up the club's only goal of the game, losing 2–1.

Krafth then made his UEFA Europa League debut, starting a match and played 65 minutes before being substituted, in a 3–1 loss against Levante on 22 November 2012.

Throughout the 2012 season, he found his playing his time, mostly from the substitute bench and made six starts for the side.

Krafth went on to make fifteen appearances in all competitions when the season ended.

At the start of the 2013 season, Krafth made his first appearance of the season, starting the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Assyriska in the Svenska Cupen.

After suffering a knee injury that he sustained while on international duty, it wasn't until on 18 April 2013 when he made his first league appearance of the season, starting the whole game, and set up Helsingborgs’ first goal of the game, in a 4–1 win against IFK Norrköping.

Since the start of the 2013 season, Krafth quickly became a first team regular for the side, playing in the right–back position.

It wasn't until on 27 June 2013 when he scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 loss against AIK.

In addition, Krafth provided assists on three more time later in the 2013 season.

He once helped Helsingborgs IF keep two clean sheets on two occasions.

At the end of the 2013 season, he went on to make thirty–four appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

At the start of the 2014 season, Krafth helped Helsingborgs IF reach the finals of the Svenska Cupen.

However in the Svenska Cupen Final against Elfsborg, he started in the final, playing in the right–back position, as the club lost 1–0.

It was announced on 11 April 2014 that Krafth signed a contract with Helsingborgs IF, keeping him until 2016.

Since the start of the 2014 season, he continued to be a first team regular for the side, playing in the right–back position.

Developed at Lagans, Krafth had played for Öster, Helsingborg and Bologna, before joining Newcastle United in 2019.

He also had a loan spell at Amiens.

Krafth was born in Ljungby, Kronoberg County.

Growing up, he began playing football, coming from his parents, Pelle and Pernilla, who were both footballers, and joined his then mother's club, Lagans AIK, at five years old.

Krafth was coached by his parents throughout his time at Lagans AIK.

He initially started out playing as a defensive midfield and striker positions before switching to the defender positions, eventually playing in the right–back position.

Krafth has a sister and a brother.

When he was fifteen years old, Krafth moved out of his parents’ house to Växjö, attending a football high school there and said it was easy to adapt.

Growing up, he supported Manchester United.

Krafth began his career at lower-division side Lagans AIK.