Brentford have signed Norway international defender Kristoffer Ajer from Celtic F.C. for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance. Kris, as he is known, completed a medical before signing a five-year contract. He will train with his team mates this week as The Bees count down to their first-ever Premier League season.
The move brings ends a five-year stay in Scotland for the tall 23-year-old centre back. He joined Celtic just after his 18th birthday, having already played for more than two years in the top-flight in Norway for IK Start, his first professional club. The second half of his first year in Scotland was spent on loan at Kilmarnock but Kris has been a regular for Celtic for the past four seasons.
Thomas Frank, Brentford FC Head Coach, said: “We wanted to get another central defender in, and Kris was our first choice. We think he fits the position specific profile perfectly, especially on the ball.
“Kris is very composed and can find the right passes between the lines. His level when bringing the ball forward is very high. As a defender he has the physicality that you need, and he won his duels when he played in the Scottish league. He can help us in both boxes, with his strength in the air.
“He is a player at a good age, and we think he come straight in and be ready to perform in the Premier League. But he also fits the way we want to recruit players and work with them. He can develop as a player and both Brentford FC and Kris can move to a higher level in the coming years.”
Rasmus Ankersen, Brentford FC Co-Director of Football, said: “Kristoffer has scouted extremely well, and he ticks all the boxes for what we want in a Brentford defender on and off the pitch. It goes without saying that a player of his calibre has many options. We are really pleased that Kristoffer has decided to commit his future to Brentford."
Kris collected a series of trophies in his years at Celtic. The Glasgow side won the Scottish domestic treble in three consecutive seasons, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20. Kris was named in the Scottish Premiership PFA Team of the Season in the middle season. In five years with Celtic, Kris played 176 games and scored seven goals, 38 of those appearances were in the UEFA competitions, Champions League and Europa League.
Kris made his first appearances for his country at Under-15 level and worked his way through the age groups. He made his full international debut before his 20th birthday and has 23 caps, including starting two friendlies in the summer. Kris has played 60 games for his country at all levels, scoring eight goals.