Kristian Hlynsson

Kristian Nökkvi Hlynsson is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Twente and the Iceland national team.

Club career

Kristian started his career with Icelandic club Breiðablik, making his senior debut in the Besta deild karla in 2019. During his youth career, Hlynsson also spent time training with English club Norwich City. In January 2020, he transferred to the youth academy of Ajax.

Hlynsson made his professional debut for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 7 December 2020 against FC Eindhoven. He gradually established himself as a key player for the reserve team, particularly during the 2022–23 season where he scored 11 goals in 37 league appearances from midfield. His first goals for the senior Ajax team came on 15 December 2021, when he scored twice after coming on as a substitute in a KNVB Cup match against BVV Barendrecht.
Hlynsson made his Eredivisie debut for Ajax on 19 August 2023 in a 2–2 draw against Excelsior. He enjoyed a breakthrough during the 2023–24 season, becoming a regular starter in attacking midfield under managers Maurice Steijn and John van 't Schip. He scored 7 goals in 25 Eredivisie appearances and featured in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League. His performances earned him the Eredivisie Talent of the Month award for January 2024. However, in the first half of the 2024–25 season, his first-team opportunities became more limited.

On 31 January 2025, seeking more consistent playing time, Hlynsson joined fellow Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on loan until the end of the 2024–25 season. He quickly integrated into the team, scoring his first goal for Sparta in a league match against Willem II on 2 March 2025.

On 8 July 2025 Ajax and FC Twente reached an agreement regarding the transfer of Kristian Hlynsson to the club from Enschede.

Hlynsson has featured for the under-15, under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 Icelandic youth national teams. He made his senior debut for the Iceland national team on 16 November 2023, appearing as a substitute against Slovakia in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match. He earned his second cap in a friendly against the Netherlands on 10 June 2024. His third appearance came on 23 March 2025, again as a substitute, in a UEFA Nations League play-off match against Kosovo.

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	5 September 2025	Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland	5		5–0	5–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	13 October 2025	Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland	8		2–2	2–2	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification