Nikolaj Kirk
FullnameNikolaj Hammelsvang Kirk[1]
Birth date19 March 1998 (age 28)
Birth placeGrønbjerg, Denmark[2]
Height1.80 m[3]
PositionCentral midfielder, full back
Youthclubs 1Grønbjerg IF
Youthclubs 2Spjald IF
Youthyears 3–2013
Youthclubs 3Vildbjerg SF
Youthyears 42013–2016
Youthclubs 4FC Midtjylland
Years 12016–2020
Clubs 1FC Midtjylland
Caps 10
Goals 10
Years 22017–2018
Clubs 2→ Brentford (loan)
Caps 20
Goals 20
Years 32018–2019
Clubs 3→ Brentford (loan)
Caps 30
Goals 30
Years 42019
Clubs 4→ Stabæk (loan)
Caps 44
Goals 40
Years 52019
Clubs 5→ Stabæk 2 (loan)
Caps 55
Goals 50
Years 62019–2020
Clubs 6→ FC Fredericia (loan)
Caps 69
Goals 62
Years 72020–2023
Clubs 7Aarhus Fremad
Caps 734
Goals 73
Years 82023–2024
Clubs 8Odder IGF
Caps 85
Goals 80
Nationalyears 12014
Nationalteam 1Denmark U16
Nationalcaps 15
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22014–2015
Nationalteam 2Denmark U17
Nationalcaps 29
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 32015–2016
Nationalteam 3Denmark U18
Nationalcaps 34
Nationalgoals 30
Club-update11:47, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

Nikolaj Hammelsvang Kirk (born 19 March 1998) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder or full back. He is a product of the FC Midtjylland academy and played professional football for Brentford, Stabæk and FC Fredericia while on loan from the club. After his release in 2020, Kirk dropped into Danish amateur football. He represented Denmark at youth level.

Club career

FC Midtjylland and loans

A central midfielder,[4] Kirk began his career with spells at Grønbjerg IF, Spjald IF and Vildbjerg SF, before joining the academy at Superliga club FC Midtjylland in 2013.[5] He progressed to sign a five-year professional contract in September 2016 and spent the 2017–18, 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons away on loan.[6][7][8] Kirk transferred out of the club in August 2020.[9]

On 22 June 2017, Kirk joined the B team at Championship club Brentford on loan for the duration of the 2017–18 season.[10] He made 34 appearances, scored one goal and rejoined the club on loan for the 2018–19 season.[11][12] Kirk captained the B team and played as a utility player in defence and midfield during the campaign.[13][14] He won his maiden call into the first team squad for an FA Cup fifth round match versus Swansea City on 17 February 2019 and made the first senior appearance of his career as a substitute for Saïd Benrahma after 69 minutes of the 4–1 defeat.[15] Kirk's loan was terminated in March 2019, by which time he had made 71 appearances for Brentford B.[7]

On 31 March 2019, Kirk joined Norwegian Eliteserien club Stabæk on loan until 25 July 2019.[16] He made 11 appearances for the first and reserve teams before the loan was terminated early.[1]

On 20 July 2019, Kirk joined Danish 1st Division club FC Fredericia on a loan which was later extended until the end of the 2019–20 season.[8][17] He made 11 appearances and scored two goals during his spell.[18]

Lower-league football

On 5 August 2020, Kirk signed a two-year contract with Danish 2nd Division club Aarhus Fremad.[19] He made 22 appearances and scored 2 goals during the 2020–21 season,[20] but missed the entire 2021–22 season due to an achilles injury.[21][22][23] Kirk returned to make 13 appearances and score one goal during the 2022–23 season.[24] He made concurrent Denmark Series and Jutland Series appearances for Odder IGF during the 2023–24 season.[25][26][27]

International career

Kirk was capped by Denmark between U16 and U18 level.[28]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford (loan)2018–19[15]Championship001000—10
Stabæk (loan)2019[1]Eliteserien4020——60
Stabæk II (loan)2019[1]Norwegian Third Division50———50
FC Fredericia (loan)2019–20[18]Danish 1st Division9220——112
Aarhus Fremad2020–21[20]Danish 2nd Division Group 121210——222
2022–23[24]Danish 2nd Division13100——131
Total34310——353
Odder IGF2023–24[25]Denmark Series Group 45010—0000
Odder IGF2023–24[27]Jutland Series Group 241———41
Career total616700000686
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Norwegian Cup, Danish Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ Bitsch, Ole (5 August 2020). "Farvel og tak: Midtbanetalent forlader FCM" (in Danish). Herning Folkeblad. Retrieved 31 July 2022. Han er fra Grønbjerg ved Spjald
  3. ^ "Holdet". FC Fredericia. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Lærte af landsholdsspillerne i Brentford: Nu er han i FC Fredericia" (in da-DK). Fredericia Avisen. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Grønbjerg-talent på kontrakt i FCM" (in Danish). 15 September 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  6. ^ "FC Midtjylland giver kontrakt til Kirk" (in Danish). Tipsbladet.dk. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Nikolaj Kirk leaves Brentford for Norway". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  8. ^ Viborg, Patrick (20 November 2019). "Stig Pedersen: Bedste efterårssæson i ni år" (in da-DK). Fredericia AVISEN. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Nikolaj Kirk rykker videre i karrieren" (in Danish). www.fcm.dk. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Brentford B add midfielder Nikolaj Kirk on loan". Brentford FC. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. ^ "B Team 17/18: One win, one loss and one full stats review". Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Nikolaj Kirk signs one-year loan extension". Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Nikolaj Kirk – Midfielder – Brentford B". Brentford FC. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Nikolaj Kirk reflects on captaining B Team into Semi-Finals". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  15. ^
  16. ^ "Henter dansk back". Stabæk Fotball. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Pressemeddelelse: FC Fredericia lejer to spillere i FC Midtjylland". FC Fredericia. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  18. ^
  19. ^ "Aarhus Fremad Fodbold Nikolaj Kirk skifter til Aarhus Fremad". Aarhus Fremad Fodbold. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Stillinger og resultater" (in Danish). DBU. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Mathias Kubel er ny spiller i Aarhus Fremad" (in da-DK). Aarhus Fremad Fodbold. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Stillinger og resultater" (in Danish). DBU. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Kolding IF vs Aarhus Fremad" (in Spanish). es.bsportsfan.com. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Stillinger og resultater" (in Danish). DBU. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Stillinger og resultater" (in Danish). DBU. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Odder – Skive" (in Danish). DBU. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Stillinger og resultater" (in Danish). DBU. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  28. ^