# Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak (born 21 September 1999) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Sweden national team.
Born and raised in Solna, Sweden, Isak started his professional career with boyhood club AIK in 2016 and then represented Borussia Dortmund and Willem II before signing with Real Sociedad in 2019. In 2022, he signed with Newcastle United for a club record fee.
A full Swedish international since 2017, Isak has won 50 caps for his national team, and represented the side at UEFA Euro 2020. He is the youngest-ever goalscorer for both AIK and the Swedish national team.

## Early life

Isak was born to Eritrean parents on 21 September 1999 and raised in Solna Municipality, in central Stockholm County. He started playing for the youth team of one of the largest clubs in the area, the Allsvenskan team he supports, AIK, at age six.

## Club career
### AIK

Isak made his first-team debut for AIK on 28 February 2016, appearing as a substitute in the 75th minute of the Swedish Cup away match against fourth-tier side Tenhults IF. At age 16, Isak scored a goal in the 6–0 victory.
On 7 April 2016, AIK head coach Andreas Alm included Isak in the starting lineup on matchday 2 of the Allsvenskan in an away fixture against Östersunds FK, alongside fellow young striker Carlos Strandberg. He secured the victory for his side, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 win, thus becoming the youngest scorer for AIK in Allsvenskan history at the age of 16 years and 199 days.
On 25 April, Isak scored his first goal at AIK's home ground, Friends Arena, opening the score in a 2–1 victory against IF Elfsborg.
On 3 May 2016, Isak signed his first professional contract through the end of the 2018 season, having impressed in his first few games, and establishing himself as a first-team regular. Between matchdays 8 and 9, head coach Alm was sacked, but Isak was confirmed in the lineup by new manager Rikard Norling.
On 21 September 2016, Isak's 17th birthday, he scored two critical goals in AIK's 3–0 derby win over arch-rivals Djurgårdens IF. He was later described by teammate Chinedu Obasi as "Sweden's new Zlatan Ibrahimović".

### Borussia Dortmund

On 23 January 2017, Isak signed for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund on a long-term contract, lasting until the summer of 2022. The transfer fee was undisclosed, but reports suggested that it was set at €9 million, which would be the highest transfer fee ever paid for an Allsvenskan player at that time. Before signing with Dortmund, Isak reportedly turned down a move to Real Madrid.
Isak made his first appearance for the club in a 3–0 cup win over Sportfreunde Lotte on 14 March 2017. Isak won his first medal with the club when Dortmund won the 2016–17 DFB-Pokal, only appearing once in the tournament, and not being in the squad for the final.
He scored his first competitive goal for Dortmund in a 2017–18 DFB-Pokal second round win against 1. FC Magdeburg on 24 October 2017, scoring the second goal in a 5–0 win.

#### Loan to Willem II

After making no appearances in the 2018–19 Bundesliga season for Borussia Dortmund, Isak was loaned to Dutch Eredivisie club Willem II. On 28 February 2019, he scored the equaliser and the winning penalty against AZ Alkmaar in the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup, helping Willem II reach the Dutch cup final for the first time since 2005. On 30 March 2019, he became the first player ever to score three penalties in an Eredivisie match, in a 3–2 win against Fortuna Sittard. On 14 April 2019, Isak became the first foreign-born player in the Eredivisie to score 12 goals in his first 12 league games.

### Real Sociedad

On 12 June 2019, Isak signed a five-year deal with Real Sociedad, joining the La Liga club on 1 July 2019, in which he scored his first goal in his first game. He strongly continued the pre-season, scoring four goals in five games. Isak scored his first competitive goal for Real Sociedad in a 3–1 La Liga win against RCD Espanyol on 22 September 2019. On 6 February, Isak scored two goals and made one assist in the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Real Madrid. On 9 February, he scored the winning goal in the Basque derby against Athletic Bilbao.
On 3 April 2021, Isak won his first silverware with the club when he started and played in 89 minutes of the 2020 Copa del Rey Final in a 1–0 win against Athletic Bilbao, helping Real Sociedad win the 2019–20 Copa del Rey.
He scored his first hat-trick for the club on 21 February 2021 in a 4–0 league win against Deportivo Alavés, becoming the first Swedish player to score a La Liga hat-trick since Henry "Garvis" Carlsson did the same for Atletico Madrid in 1949. Isak scored 10 goals in all competitions the following season, where Real Sociedad ultimately finished 6th in La Liga.

### Newcastle United
#### 2022–23: Record transfer

On 26 August 2022, Isak signed for Premier League club Newcastle United on a six-year contract which runs until June 2028, for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £63 million, which would be a club transfer record. On 31 August, he scored a goal on his debut and was named man of the match in a 2–1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield.
Following a 1–1 draw with Bournemouth, where he scored a penalty, Isak was sidelined for 16 competitive matches due to a hamstring injury, he returned to the squad to play the first half in the FA Cup third round tie to Sheffield Wednesday. On 15 January 2023, he scored his first goal after the injury in the 89th minute in a 1–0 victory over Fulham. Isak scored his first brace for Newcastle on 17 March in a 2–1 away victory against Nottingham Forest, the second goal being a penalty in stoppage time to win the game.
On 23 April, he scored another brace within two minutes in a 6–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Five days later, he dribbled past three Everton defenders to cross the ball, with a deflection off James Tarkowski, to Jacob Murphy who scored the last goal in a 4–1 away victory, which urged his manager Eddie Howe to discuss comparisons between him and Thierry Henry.

#### 2023–25: Sustained individual success

On 12 August 2023, Isak scored a brace in a 5–1 win over Aston Villa in the first match of the season. On 27 September, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Manchester City in the EFL Cup, to be his club's first win against the latter in the last 11 meetings. On 25 November, Isak scored a goal in a 4–1 win over Chelsea, following his recovery from a groin injury. Three days later, he scored his first Champions League goal to grant his club a 1–0 away lead against Paris Saint-Germain, in a match which ended in a 1–1 draw following a controversial penalty scored by the latter in the stoppage time.
On 14 April 2024, Isak scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season as Newcastle beat Tottenham 4–0, equaling Zlatan Ibrahimovic's record for most goals by a Swede in a Premier League season. He then broke the record in a 5–1 win against Sheffield United on April 28 where he scored a brace at St James' Park. He finished his second season at the club as their top scorer with 21 league goals, only behind Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the league.
On 21 December 2024, Isak scored his first hat-trick for Newcastle in a 4–0 win at Ipswich Town, making him the first Swedish player to score a hat-trick in the league since Freddie Ljungberg for Arsenal in May 2003. Isak's opening goal, scored in 25.95 seconds from kick-off, was also the fastest away goal for Newcastle United in the Premier League.
On 10 January 2025, Isak was voted the Premier League Player of the Month for December, after scoring eight goals and providing two assists throughout the month, as well as scoring in six consecutive games. This made him the first Swedish player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic in December 2016 to win the award, and the fourth Swede to win it. He was also handed the December Goal of the Month for a strike against Liverpool in a 3–3 draw. On 23 February, he scored his 50th Premier League goal, marking the occasion with a brace in Newcastle's 4–3 victory over Nottingham Forest. A month later, on 16 March, he netted a goal in a 2–1 victory over Liverpool in the EFL Cup final, securing his club's first domestic title since 1955.

## International career

Isak played for youth Swedish national teams in the U-16 to U-21 categories. He was called up to the Sweden national team for the friendly matches against Ivory Coast on 8 January 2017 and Slovakia on 12 January. He made his debut against the Ivory Coast, coming on for Per Frick in the 62nd minute of a 1–2 loss. He started the second game against Slovakia, scoring the first goal in a 6–0 win in the 19th minute, becoming the youngest goalscorer ever in the history of the Sweden national team.
On 23 March 2019, Isak made his first competitive appearance for Sweden, when he replaced Robin Quaison in the 88th minute in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying game against Romania, which Sweden won 2–1.
Isak scored his first competitive goal for Sweden on 7 June 2019, when Sweden beat Malta in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying game at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Isak scored the last goal in a 3–0 win.
Isak was called up for a major tournament for the first time when he was included in Sweden's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020.

## Style of play

Isak has been described as a "true modern striker", offering an aerial presence with his 6'4" frame whilst possessing notable pace and skills with the ball at his feet, allowing him to manoeuvre through tight spaces and outsmart defenders. Isak's composure in finishing goalscoring opportunities with both feet, and his link up play and passing abilities have also been noted, allowing teammates to join the attack. Isak showcases intelligent positioning and movement in the attacking third of the pitch, ensuring difficulty for him to be marked by opposition defenders, opening up spaces for himself and teammates to exploit in running in behind the defensive line. Out of possession, Isak's workrate and defensive positioning have also been highlighted as key features of his all-round game. Isak has been utilised as a solo striker, a left winger and in a two-man setup, using his strength to hold up the ball in the former role, whilst using his speed to exploit gaps in the opposition defence in the latter roles.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 16 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| AIK | 2016 | Allsvenskan | 24 | 10 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 13 |
| Borussia Dortmund II | 2016–17 | Regionalliga West | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Borussia Dortmund II | 2018–19 | Regionalliga West | 11 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 5 |
| Borussia Dortmund II | Total | Total | 12 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 5 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Borussia Dortmund | Total | Total | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Willem II (loan) | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 16 | 13 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 14 |
| Real Sociedad | 2019–20 | La Liga | 37 | 9 | 8 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 45 | 16 |
| Real Sociedad | 2020–21 | La Liga | 34 | 17 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 17 |
| Real Sociedad | 2021–22 | La Liga | 32 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | 41 | 10 |
| Real Sociedad | 2022–23 | La Liga | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| Real Sociedad | Total | Total | 105 | 33 | 12 | 8 | — | — | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 132 | 44 |
| Newcastle United | 2022–23 | Premier League | 22 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 10 |
| Newcastle United | 2023–24 | Premier League | 30 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 25 |
| Newcastle United | 2024–25 | Premier League | 25 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 23 |
| Newcastle United | Total | Total | 77 | 50 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 100 | 58 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 239 | 111 | 27 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 303 | 135 |
* ↑ Includes Svenska Cupen, DFB-Pokal, KNVB Cup, Copa del Rey, FA Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
* ↑ Appearance in Supercopa de España
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

### International

    As of match played 19 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Sweden | 2017 | 2 | 1 |
| Sweden | 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2019 | 10 | 3 |
| Sweden | 2020 | 6 | 1 |
| Sweden | 2021 | 14 | 4 |
| Sweden | 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2023 | 5 | 1 |
| Sweden | 2024 | 8 | 5 |
| Total | Total | 50 | 15 |
    As of match played 19 November 2024
    Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Alexander Isak :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 12 January 2017 | Armed Forces Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Slovakia | 1–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 7 June 2019 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | Malta | 3–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 3 | 5 September 2019 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | Faroe Islands | 1–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 4 | 5 September 2019 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | Faroe Islands | 2–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 5 | 8 October 2020 | VEB Arena, Moscow, Russia | Russia | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 6 | 28 March 2021 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo | Kosovo | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 2 September 2021 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | Spain | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 9 October 2021 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | Kosovo | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 12 October 2021 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | Greece | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 9 September 2023 | Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | Estonia | 3–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 11 | 5 June 2024 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark | Denmark | 1–1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 12 | 5 September 2024 | Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C |
| 13 | 5 September 2024 | Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C |
| 14 | 8 September 2024 | Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden | Estonia | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C |
| 15 | 16 November 2024 | Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden | Slovakia | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C |

## Honours

Borussia Dortmund
* DFB-Pokal: 2016–17
Real Sociedad
* Copa del Rey: 2019–20
Newcastle United
* EFL Cup: 2024–25; runner-up: 2022–23
Individual
* Allsvenskan Newcomer of the Year: 2016
* Allsvenskan Player of the Month: September 2016
* Copa del Rey top scorer: 2019–20
* Eredivisie Talent of the Month: March 2019
* Swedish Forward of the Year: 2021
* Premier League Player of the Month: December 2024
* Premier League Goal of the Month: December 2024