Ipswich Town's record signing Sindre Walle Egeli has his sights set on the World Cup after joining the Championship club for an initial £17.5m in August. The 19-year-old Norwegian, who holds the record for most goals in Norway's age-group teams, including outscoring Erling Haaland, described the move as the toughest challenge he could take.
Egeli, who scored the winner for Norway Under-21s against Bosnia, dismissed comparisons to Haaland. “I’m not even close to being the same player as him,” he said. “He’s the best player in the world now, but I wouldn’t compare us.” The versatile forward, primarily playing on the right wing, honed his left foot in his hometown of Larvik, often practising with his father and brother.
The teenager recalled a childhood heartbreak when he and his family were sold fake tickets for a Liverpool match at Anfield in 2014. “It turned out we’d got fake tickets. It was heartbreaking,” he said. Despite that, English football has dealt him a kinder hand now, with Ipswich providing a pathway to the Premier League.
Egeli made his senior international debut for Norway before Haaland, but insists he has much to learn from the Manchester City star. He also revealed a missed open goal from a pass by his older brother Vetle, a left-back for Sandefjord, during Norway Under-21 duty. “He’s very mad at me,” Egeli laughed.
