TFC newcomer Ola Brynhildsen looks to make a big splash in MLS
All eyes will be on the Norwegian to see if he can spark Toronto FC's attack into life, especially as he’ll be wearing the No. 9.
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You’d think that Ola Brynhildsen would be feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders after joining Toronto FC this week.
Desperate to give a boost to their anemic attack, TFC signed the Norwegian forward on loan for the 2025 MLS season, with an option to purchase, from Danish club FC Midtjylland. Toronto only scored 40 goals during its 2024 domestic campaign, which was fourth-worst in MLS, so it has turned to the Norwegian to help pull it out of the doldrums
All eyes will be on Brynhildsen, a 25-year-old from Bærum, to see how quickly he can adapt to life in Canada, a country he has never previously visited, and if he can spark the Reds' attack into life this season. Given the expectations, Brynhildsen will have a lot of pressure resting on his shoulders, especially as he’ll be wearing the vaunted No. 9 on the back of his TFC jersey.
But the Norwegian cut a calm, cool and very confident figure during a virtual media session with reporters on Wednesday afternoon that served as his formal introduction as a member of Toronto FC.
“I will say that I'm an all-around type of player. I can go in behind; I can link up. I enjoy playing with the [ball at my feet]. I don't see myself having so many weaknesses in the game,” Brynhildsen stated.
“If the ball comes long, I will fight with the defenders. But, of course, I enjoy getting in behind, to have good players behind me that can put me in behind, creating goal scoring opportunities and hopefully score some goals.”
John Molinaro
Scoring goals is something Brynhildsen knows something about, having found the back of the net 76 times while collecting 33 assists in 267 games across all competitions in a club career that began in his native Norway with Stabæk Fotball.
He came up through the Stabæk youth system before making his first team debut in 2017 and he went on to score 13 goals for the club before signing with fellow Norwegian side Molde in 2020. While there, he bagged an impressive 40 goals, and then moved to Denmark in 2023.
Another eight goals came from Brynhildsen during his time with FC Midtjylland before he was loaned to Molde in 2024. He scored 12 goals in 18 appearances in his second stint with the Norwegian outfit.
Brynhildsen enjoyed playing in his native Norway, and described his tenure in Denmark as “a good time.” But he also felt he needed a new challenge and that he wanted to test himself.
“I enjoyed [Denmark], but the playing style didn’t fit me as well. They're pretty basic games; a lot of set pieces and stuff like that. I played a lot, but I didn't get the flow [and] the rhythm, that I really wanted to really show what I'm good for,” Brynhildsen explained.
He added: “It wasn't really a fit, even though we won the [league] championship. Even though I played a lot of games, for me, I [wanted] to play more of another type of football. So, that was why I chose to leave.”
Negotiations with Toronto FC had been going on for months, Brynhildsen revealed, but they heated up over the last few weeks.
When talks became more serious, he reached out to TFC defender Henry Wingo and New York City FC goalkeeper Birk Risa, two of his former teammates at Molde. He also had a conversation with Toronto centre back and fellow Norwegian Sigurd Rosted to get a lay of the land in MLS, a league he said he’s been intrigued by for a long time.
“I had some chats with [Wingo], and he told me about the team, about the city. … I've heard a lot of great stuff about the league and about Toronto. So, that made it much easier,” Brynhildsen said.
Brynhildsen hasn’t played a competitive game since featuring for Molde in a 90-minute performance against Cypriot club APOEL FC on Nov. 28, 2024 in the group stage of the UEFA Conference League.
He’s been training with TFC this week in Florida, but whether or not he’ll see action in the Reds’ season opener away to D.C. United on Saturday remains to be seen.
“I feel like I'm in good shape. I've been training well. I have good numbers, so they're probably going [to let me adapt] in the beginning, but I don't think it's going to take a lot of time,” Brynhildsen said.
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Standing a modest five-foot-ten, Brynhildsen has four caps for Norway since making his international debut in November 2022. He hopes more chances with the national team will come following his move to TFC, especially with Norway slated to begin its World Cup qualifying process next month.
National team opportunities have often dried up for players who move from European clubs to MLS, but Brynhildsen isn’t focused on that at the moment.
“I'm not coming here to settle down to retire. I’m coming here to show what I'm good for, and hopefully I can get back at the national team later on,” the Norwegian said.
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