Japhet Sery Larsen
Japhet Sery Larsen is a Danish professional footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union as a centre-back.
Sery is a product of the FC Midtjylland academy and began his senior career with the club in 2020. He transferred to Norwegian club SK Brann in 2021 and to FK Bodø/Glimt in 2022, before returning to SK Brann in 2023. In 2026, Sery transferred to Philadelphia Union. He was capped by Denmark at youth level. Sery's nickname is "Jeff".
Club career
FC Midtjylland
A central defender, Sery began his career with spells at CIK, KB, B93 and Lyngby, before joining the academy at Superliga club FC Midtjylland in July 2015. He progressed to sign a contract extension in January 2018 and was a part of the club's 2017–18 and 2018–19 U19 Ligaen-winning squads. Sery was an unused substitute for the first team on one occasion during the 2018–19 season and signed a five-year professional contract in 2019.
On 21 June 2019, Sery joined the B team at Championship club Brentford on loan for the duration of the 2019–20 season. He was an unused substitute for the first team during a 1–0 FA Cup third round victory over Stoke City on 4 January 2020.
Sery returned to Midtjylland to begin the 2020–21 season as a member of the first team squad. He made 8 appearances during the season and scored one goal, in a 3–0 win over OB on 10 March 2021. Sery left the club in July 2021.
SK Brann
On 24 July 2021, Sery moved to Norway to sign a -year contract with Eliteserien club SK Brann. After making his debut eight days later with a start in a 3–0 Norwegian Cup second round win over Fana, Sery missed five weeks due to requiring surgery for appendicitis. He made 9 appearances and scored one goal during the remainder of the 2021 season, which culminated in relegation after defeat in the 2021 Eliteserien relegation play-offs. Sery departed the club in February 2022.
FK Bodø/Glimt
On 2 February 2022, Sery signed a three-year contract with reigning Eliteserien champions FK Bodø/Glimt. Either side of two months out with an injury suffered in July 2022, Sery made 18 appearances during the 2022 season and departed the club in January 2023.
Return to SK Brann
On 25 January 2023, Sery returned to SK Brann and signed a four-year contract. In his absence, the club had been promoted back to the Eliteserien. During a 2023 season in which the club finished as runners-up in the Eliteserien and won the Norwegian Cup, Sery made 28 appearances and scored two goals. Sery made 29 appearances during the 2024 season, in which the club repeated its runner-up finish and he made a further 28 appearances in 2025. Sery transferred out of the club in January 2026 and ended his two spells at the Brann Stadion with 98 appearances and four goals.
Philadelphia Union
On 13 January 2026, Sery transferred to Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union and signed a -year contract, with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed fee.
International career
Sery was capped by Denmark at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 level.
Personal life
Sery grew up in Herlev and is of Ivorian descent. As a youth, he competed in track and field for Sparta.
Honours
SK Brann