Published on July 18, 2025 | Last Updated on 3 days
“I go into every game with the same mentality… to score goals, as that helps the team. It’s about the team.”
— Alexander Isak, speaking after a 3–0 win over Wolves on January 17, 2025
Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alexander Isak |
| Nickname(s) | • The Next Zlatan • The New Ibrahimovic |
| Profession | Footballer |
Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | 192 cm (6’4″) |
| Weight (approx.) | 77 kg |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| EA Sports FC 25 Rating | Overall rating of 85, with a Team of the Season card rated at 96 |
Football | |
| Professional Debut | February 28, 2016 for AIK against Tenhults IF (age 16 years, 5 months, 6 days) |
| International Debut | January 8, 2017 for Sweden against Ivory Coast (age 17 years, 3 months, 15 days) |
| International Career | ➤ Sweden: 2017-present (52 caps, 16 goals) ➤ Sweden U21: 2016-2018 (7 caps, 0 goal) ➤ Sweden U19: 2016-2017 (6 caps, 2 goals) ➤ Sweden U17: 2015-2016 (19 caps, 6 goals) |
| Clubs | • Newcastle United (2022 – Present) • Real Sociedad (2019 – 2022) • → Willem II (loan) – (2019) • Borussia Dortmund (2017 – 2019) • Borussia Dortmund II (2017 – 2019) • AIK (2016) |
| Position | Striker |
| Jersey Number | — #14 (for the Premier League club Newcastle United) — #19 (for Real Sociedad during the 2019-2022 seasons)  — #14 (for Borussia Dortmund during the 2017-2019 seasons)  — #9 (for the Sweden National team)  |
| Current Team | Newcastle United |
| Transfers and Loans | — January 2017: AIK ➝ Borussia Dortmund (€9 million) — January 2019: Borussia Dortmund ➝ Willem II (loan) — June 2019: Borussia Dortmund ➝ Real Sociedad (€6.5 million) — August 2022: Real Sociedad ➝ Newcastle United (£63 million) |
| Coach/Mentor | • Henok Goitom • Janne Andersson • Imanol Alguacil • Eddie Howe |
| Notable Records | ➤ Scored in 8 consecutive Premier League matches (2024–25) ➤ First Newcastle player to hit 20+ league goals in consecutive seasons ➤ Third-fastest player in Newcastle history to reach 50 goals (he reached 50 goals in just 89 appearances) ➤ Fastest away goal in Newcastle Premier League history (25.95 seconds) against Ipswich ➤ Most powerful goal award winner (received the Premier League’s “Most Powerful Goal” award during 2022–23 for an exceptionally struck finish, backed by Opta data) ➤ Premier League Player of the Month (December 2024) ➤ Calendar Year Record for Newcastle (Scored 25 Premier League goals in 2024, only Alan Shearer has scored more for the club in a calendar year (27 in 2002) |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | • DFB-Pokal Winner – 2016/17 (Part of the Borussia Dortmund squad that lifted the German Cup, marking his first major trophy in Europe at just 17 years old) • Copa del Rey Champion – 2019/20 (Played a key role in Real Sociedad’s historic Spanish Cup win, the club’s first major silverware in over three decades)  • EFL Cup Winner – 2024/25 (Helped Newcastle United secure their first trophy since 1955 with a strong campaign in the Carabao Cup)  • Allsvenskan Newcomer of the Year – 2016 (Recognised as Sweden’s most outstanding young talent during his breakthrough season at AIK) • Allsvenskan Player of the Month – September 2016 (Delivered standout performances that earned him top player honours in Sweden’s top flight before moving abroad) • Copa del Rey Top Scorer – 2019/20 (Delivered standout performances that earned him top player honours in Sweden’s top flight before moving abroad) • Swedish Forward of the Year – 2021 (Named Sweden’s best striker of the year following an impressive season in La Liga) • Premier League Player of the Month – December 2024 (Scored in every match that month for Newcastle, helping his team maintain top-four momentum and earning widespread recognition) • Most Powerful Goal (Premier League) – 2024/25 Season (Won the award for the fastest-struck goal of the season, measured by advanced tracking data)  • Premier League Fans’ Team of the Season – 2024/25 (Selected in the fan-voted best XI after finishing among the league’s top scorers and leading Newcastle’s attack with style) • The Athletic Team of the Season – 2024/25 (Earned a spot in the season’s best XI, handpicked by top analysts based on consistent elite-level performances) |
Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 21 September 1999 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 25 years |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Place of Birth | Solna, Sweden |
| Residence | Darras Hall Estate in Ponteland, Northumberland |
| College/University | Did not attend |
| Religion | Christian |
| Ethnicity | Eritrean |
| Hobbies | Music Lover, Fashion & Style, Basketball Enthusiast, Gaming |
| Controversies | • Contract Impasse & Interest from Liverpool (Summer 2025) In mid-2025, Isak became the subject of transfer drama after reports emerged that Liverpool were preparing a bid exceeding £100 million. While Newcastle’s board refused to entertain any offers, it was later revealed that Isak’s representatives had been pushing for a new long-term contract with improved wages. Although not a direct controversy, the stalled talks raised speculation about his future and created tension between the player’s camp and club executives. [1] • Racist Abuse Incident (2019) During a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier match between Romania and Sweden on November 15, 2019, Alexander Isak, then 20 years old, was subjected to racist abuse from a section of the home crowd in Bucharest’s National Arena. Isak, who came on as a substitute in the second half, faced boos, whistles, and racist chants. The referee, Daniele Orsato, briefly stopped the match and threatened to suspend it due to the abuse, though the game resumed and Sweden won 2-0. Isak reported the incident to the referee, stating, “I heard the racist abuse coming from the stands and told the referee, but he initially said he did not hear anything,” and added, “It’s a shame, but we were prepared for it,” noting that it “obviously hurts.” This incident sparked significant discussion about racism in football, though it was not a controversy caused by Isak himself but rather one where he was a victim. [2] • Harsh Criticism After Luxembourg Defeat (March 2025) Isak faced strong backlash in Sweden following a shock 1–0 loss to Luxembourg during a UEFA Nations League fixture. Despite his Premier League form, he was largely anonymous in the match and received heavy criticism from local media, who questioned his impact and leadership for the national team. It led to public discussions around his consistency in international duty. [3] |
| Social Media | |
Relationship & More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | Single |
Family | |
| Parents | Father – Teame Isak (school teacher, Eritrean immigrant) Mother – Mother’s name undisclosed (Swedish-born, homemaker)  |
| Siblings | Sened Teame Isak |
Financial Status | |
| Salary (weekly) | £120,000 at Newcastle United |
| Salary (approx.) | 6.24 million GBP per annum at Newcastle |
| Net Worth | £24 million (as of 2025) |
| Market Value | €120 million per transfermarkt |
Alexander Isak Goalscoring Breakdown
| Team / Competition | Years | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle United | 2022–Present | 86 | 54 |
| Real Sociedad | 2019–2022 | 105 | 33 |
| Willem II | 2019–Loan | 16 | 13 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2017–2019 | 5 | 0 |
| AIK | 2016 | 24 | 10 |
| Champions League | 2017–Present | 6 | 1 |
| Europa League | 2017–2022 | 17 | 3 |
With 324 games under his belt, Alexander Isak has scored 144 goals across every competition he’s played in.
What You Never Knew About Alexander Isak
▪ Before signing with Borussia Dortmund in 2017, Isak reportedly rejected an offer from Real Madrid, opting for Dortmund to secure more playing time at age 17.
▪ During his 2019 loan at Willem II, Isak became the first foreign-born player in Eredivisie history to score 12 goals in his first 12 league games, a record-setting feat that remains underreported.
▪ Isak has actively supported soccer projects for children in Asmara, Eritrea, traveling there in 2018 to engage with young players. He described the experience as “special,” reflecting his deep connection to his Eritrean heritage, which is less covered than his Swedish identity.
▪ Unlike many footballers, Isak has no tattoos, a choice attributed to his reserved personality and preference for a clean image, rarely noted in profiles.
▪ At 16 years and 199 days, Isak became AIK’s youngest-ever goalscorer in Allsvenskan history with a goal against Östersunds FK on April 7, 2016, a record that is often overshadowed by his later achievements.
▪ He speaks fluent Swedish and English, but also picked up a decent level of Spanish during his time at Real Sociedad, where he made an effort to blend with the local culture.
▪ His shirt number 14 is a tribute to Thierry Henry, who was one of his idols growing up especially during his early teenage years when he regularly watched Premier League highlights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexander Isak is a versatile, modern striker known for his technical ability, composure, and goal-scoring prowess. Standing at 6ft 4in, he combines height and power with elegance on the ball, making him a unique centre-forward. He is clinical in front of goal, capable of sweeping finishes, instinctive close-range goals, and powerful long-range strikes. Isak excels at dropping deep to link play, running with the ball, and dribbling past defenders. His tactical flexibility allows him to play as a central striker or drift to the left, and he is particularly lethal on counter-attacks, generating high expected goals (xG) from fast breaks. His work ethic, intelligence, and ability to connect midfield with attack make him a complete forward.
Before joining Newcastle United, Alexander Isak played for Real Sociedad in La Liga, where he scored 33 goals in 105 appearances from 2019 to 2022.
Specific data on Alexander Isak’s top speed is not widely documented in the provided sources. However, his athletic profile is described as including quickness and agility, with a notable ability to make driving runs and exploit space on the counter-attack, suggesting he possesses considerable pace for a 6ft 4in striker.
Newcastle United signed Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for a club-record fee of €70 million (approximately £63 million) in August 2022, including €5 million in potential add-ons.
Alexander Isak has scored 62 goals in 108 appearances for Newcastle United across all competitions as of May 2025. In the Premier League specifically, he has scored 54 goals in 86 appearances.
About the Author
Samuel Ibiok is a passionate football journalist and digital publisher with a sharp eye for storytelling. From detailed player biographies to breaking transfer news and hilarious football memes, I bring each post to life with energy and authenticity. My work blends accuracy with creativity, all driven by a deep love for the beautiful game. Read full bio »
