Nathalie Björn, born on May 4, 1997, is a talented Swedish footballer actively engaged with Chelsea in the Women's Super League and representing the Swedish national team. Known for her versatility, she excels as a center-back, right-back, or central midfielder. Björn has also showcased her skills with Everton and various top-tier women's football clubs in Sweden, including Rosengård, Eskilstuna, and AIK.
Personal Details:
Name: Gun Nathalie Björn
Date of Birth: May 4, 1997 (26 years old)
Place of Birth: Uppsala, Sweden
Height: 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing Positions: Defender, Central Midfielder
Team Information:
Current Team: Chelsea
Jersey number: 39
Senior Career:
2012: Vaksala SK
2013: IK Sirius (8 appearances)
2014–2015: AIK (34 appearances, 0 goals)
2016–2017: Eskilstuna United (39 appearances, 0 goals)
2018–2021: Rosengård (68 appearances, 4 goals)
2021–2024: Everton (44 appearances, 2 goals)
2024–present: Chelsea (3 appearances, 0 goals)
International Career:
2013: Sweden U17 (11 appearances, 2 goals)
2014–2015: Sweden U19 (29 appearances, 5 goals)
2016–present: Sweden (57 appearances, 6 goals)
Medal Record:
Olympic Games 2020 (Tokyo): Team: Representing Sweden
FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 (France): Team: Representing Sweden
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 (Australia/New Zealand): Team: Representing Sweden
Career Journey in Clubs
Commencing her soccer journey at Vaksala SK in Uppsala, Björn participated in the Swedish Cup at the age of 14. By the time she turned 16, she joined IK Sirius in the newly established Elitettan, the second division of Swedish football, in 2013. Despite finishing third, the team narrowly missed promotion to the Damallsvenskan. Transitioning to AIK Solna, which secured the second spot, Björn played in the first division, narrowly avoiding relegation in the subsequent season. In 2015, however, the club faced relegation after finishing last in the league standings. Subsequently, she joined Eskilstuna United, achieving third place in both 2016 and 2017. During the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League, she played crucial roles in the wins against Glasgow City FC in the round of 16 and contributed as a substitute against VfL Wolfsburg in the same tournament.
Björn's football journey saw her move from Eskilstuna to FC Rosengård, securing a cup win and her first national title in the 2018 season. Despite facing elimination in the 2018–19 Champions League, she continued to make significant contributions. In the 2019 season, she scored her debut league goal against Eskilstuna, marking a memorable moment in her career. The 2020 season saw her active participation in all 22 games, culminating in a championship win for her team.
Transitioning to Everton in 2021, Björn signed a three-year contract and notched her first goal in a 1-1 draw against Brighton in the 2021–22 season. Excelling in the 2022–23 season, she earned Player of the Season and played a crucial role in Everton's progress in the 2023 World Cup. Her successful penalty kick against Aston Villa showcased her impact before she made a move to Chelsea in January 2024. Joining Chelsea marked a new chapter for Björn, making his debut in the FA Cup victory against West Ham and contributing significantly in the subsequent match against Manchester United.
International Career
### Youth
Björn progressed through various Swedish junior national teams, securing the U17 runner-up position in the 2013 European Championship. Notably, she contributed to the opening goal in the 2015 U19 European Championship, where Sweden claimed the title. Despite Sweden's successful completion of the first qualifying round for the 2016 U19 European Championship, she didn't partake in the subsequent elite round, resulting in their elimination.
### Senior
In her senior national team debut on October 21, 2016, Björn played a significant role in the 7-0 victory against Iran. She continued to make her mark, participating in various international matches, including the 2019 Algarve Cup, where she scored her first international goal. Björn's nomination for the 2019 World Cup led to her playing time in critical matches, such as the group final against the USA and the quarterfinal against Germany, where Sweden secured a spot in the 2020 Olympic Games.
Despite the postponement of the 2020 Olympics, Björn played an active role in the team's games, contributing to Sweden's silver medal in the final penalty shootout against Canada. Her involvement in the successful qualification for the 2023 World Cup showcased her commitment, playing in five games and earning a spot in the Euro 2022 finals. Although Sweden faced elimination in the semi-finals against England, Björn's resilience and skills remained evident.
Her inclusion in the 23-player squad for the 2023 World Cup highlighted her continued impact, featuring in six out of seven games. While missing the final due to a semifinal defeat against Spain, she secured a bronze medal with a 2-0 victory over Australia in the game for third place, adding another achievement to her international career.
Career Statistics
International
Sweden's goal tally leads in the scores and results, indicating the score after each Nathalie Björn goal.
List of international goals scored by Nathalie Björn
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result
1 March 2019, Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufeira, Portugal
Portugal 1–0 1–2
2 April 2019 Motion Invest Arena, Maria Enzersdorf, Austria
Austria 2–0 2–0 F
3 October 8, 2019 Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
Slovakia 4–0 7–0 E q
4 February 2021, Hibernians Stadium, Paola, Malta
Malta 3–0 3–0 F
February 16, 2023, Marbella Football Center, Marbella, Spain
China 4-1
April 11, 2023 Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
Norway 2–2 3–3
Honours
FC Rosengård
Damallsvenskan: 2019
Svenska Cupen: 2017-18
Sweden U19
UEFA Under-19 Championship: 2015
Sweden U17
UEFA Under-17 Championship runner-up: 2013
Private Life
In her personal life, Björn is in a relationship and shares a home with Italian footballer Aurora Galli.