Norwegian footballer (born 1996)
Morten Thorsby
(born 5 May 1996) is a Norwegian professional
footballer
who plays as a
defensive midfielder
for
Serie A
club
Genoa
, on loan from
Bundesliga
side
Union Berlin
, and the
Norway national team
.
Club career
[
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]
Stabæk
[
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]
Thorsby started his youth career in
IL Heming
but joined
FK Lyn
in 2009.
[3]
While playing in Lyn he was drafted into the boys-15 national team.
[4]
In 2012, he joined the youth ranks of
Stabæk
.
[5]
He made his first team debut in the
2013 1. Divisjon
, as a substitute in four matches.
[1]
Stabæk was promoted, and he made his first-tier debut in April 2014 against Molde.
SC Heerenveen
[
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]
On 2 June 2014, Thorsby signed a five-year contract with
Eredivisie
side
SC Heerenveen
.
[6]
[7]
Sampdoria
[
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]
On 11 January 2019, Thorsby signed a four-year pre-contract with
Serie A
side
Sampdoria
. The contract will run through the 2023 season. He joined the club on 1 July 2019.
[8]
[9]
He made his debut on 4 November in the 1?0 away win against
SPAL
, in which he played the full match.
[10]
After that game he slowly rose in the team's hierarchy,
[11]
becoming a starter in midfield alongside
Albin Ekdal
.
[12]
On 21 June 2020, he scored his first goal for Sampdoria scoring the 2?1 consolation goal in the away defeat to
Inter Milan
.
[13]
[14]
The following year, he was confirmed as a starter alongside Ekdal,
[12]
and he scored 3 goals in 35 total appearances.
[15]
The day before the start of the
2021?22 season
, Thorsby decided to change his jersey number from 18 to 2 to raise awareness about the
Paris Agreement
? the number 2 signifying the first aim of the agreement to hold "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C".
[16]
[17]
Union Berlin
[
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]
On 19 July 2022, German club
Union Berlin
announced Thorsby's signing.
[18]
Genoa
[
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]
On 1 August 2023, Union Berlin sent Thorsby on a season-long loan to
Serie A
side
Genoa
, with a conditional obligation to buy at the end of that period.
[19]
[20]
Personal life
[
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]
Thorsby is known for his commitment to environmentalism and is an advocate for stronger actions on climate change. He established the We Play Green foundation to encourage the football community to adopt environmentally friendly initiatives, and has met with municipal and national leaders in Italy while at Sampdoria in support of improved climate policy.
[21]
[22]
In August 2021, he switched his shirt number to 2 to raise awareness of climate change. The digit represents the target of the internationally-adopted
Paris Agreement
of keeping global warming "well below" 2 °C above pre-industrial times, in order to avoid dangerous levels of climate change.
[23]
He was named 'Young Athlete of The Year' at The BBC Green Sport Awards 2022.
[24]
Career statistics
[
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]
Club
[
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]
- As of match played 24 May 2024
International
[
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]
- As of match played 8 June 2024
[26]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
|
Year
|
Apps
|
Goals
|
Norway
|
2017
|
1
|
0
|
2018
|
0
|
0
|
2019
|
0
|
0
|
2020
|
2
|
0
|
2021
|
9
|
0
|
2022
|
5
|
0
|
2023
|
0
|
0
|
2024
|
2
|
0
|
Total
|
19
|
0
|
Notes
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]
References
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]