19-year-old Jonathan Norbye has secured a permanent move to FK Haugesund after ending his loan to Fredrikstad FK. The Norwegian defender has signed a three-year contract until July 2029 and is no longer on loan to Fredrikstad. This marks the end of Leipzig's development of a defensive talent who already played in the Bundesliga.
FK Haugesund confirmed the transfer on Friday, August 20, 2026. Norbye signed a three-year contract already on Thursday and will be immediately available to the club. Sport director Kristoffer Haraldseid emphasized that Norbye's physical attributes, experience as a captain in youth teams, and skills in play construction were decisive for the move.
Norbye's loan to Fredrikstad, which had been active since March 2026, ends earlier than planned. Leipzig had previously confirmed a buy option for Fredrikstad, but Norbye has chosen to leave Norway permanently. He had played eight matches for Fredrikstad in this season.
The transfer marks the end of a long development path for Norbye. He joined Leipzig in 2023 and had his first Bundesliga match on May 18, 2024. After receiving his first professional contract in April 2025, he was first loaned to Arminia Bielefeld in 2025 but was sent back after half a year. He had played 45 junior national team matches for Norway and was part of the U19 EM squad in 2026.
For RB Leipzig, the transfer marks the end of a long development of a talent who failed to become part of the first team. Norbye now has a long-term solution with Haugesund, where he will have a secured future. FK Haugesund stated that Norbye is their second signing in the transfer window, and he brings experience from both Bundesliga and Norwegian junior national teams.
