Daniel Karlsbakk

Daniel Seland Karlsbakk is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Eliteserien club Sarpsborg 08.

Career

Karlsbakk began his career in 2009 by joining hometown club Bryne's youth academy, which led to him signing his first professional contract with the club in April 2019. He made his senior debut on 26 October 2019. He suffered an ankle injury in June 2021 while attempting a backflip, which kept him out of action for much of the following season.
On 7 December 2021, Karlsbakk signed a three-year contract with Viking. He made his competitive debut for the club on 21 April 2022 in a Norwegian Football Cup match against Bodø/Glimt and scored his first goal for the club against Haugesund on 25 June 2022.

On 31 January 2023, following the transfer of forward Amin Sarr to Olympique Lyon, Karlsbakk signed a contract with Heerenveen until 2026. He made his debut for the club on 7 February 2023 in the KNVB Cup against NAC Breda and five days later, he made his Eredivisie debut, coming on as a substitute against Feyenoord. Later that year, on 20 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 away win over FC Utrecht.

On 10 January 2025, Karlsbakk returned to Norway to sign for Sarpsborg 08. He went on to finish as the 2025 Eliteserien's top scorer with 18 goals in his first season with the club.

He is a son of former footballer Eivind Karlsbakk. Karlsbakk has compared himself to fellow Brynebu Erling Haaland, claiming that they both possess the same power in their game, which they acquired from their upbringing in Bryne. Additionally, they shared a similar diet including forcemeat.
As his father Eivind Karlsbakk reached the 1995 Norwegian Football Cup final, but lost, so did Daniel Karlsbakk in 2025.

Individual