Congratulations to Viktor Johansson, the new goalkeeper for Stoke City, who has been named in the latest Sweden squad. The 25-year-old recently transferred from Rotherham United to the bet365 Stadium after head coach Steven Schumacher and new sporting director Jon Walters activated a relegation release clause, reportedly around £1 million.
Johansson earned his first senior international cap in October, coming on at halftime against Moldova. He has now been called up for friendlies against Denmark and Serbia. This continues a significant period for him personally, as his partner is also expecting their first child. Johansson hopes that his move to Stoke will bolster his international prospects and he will join a goalkeeping team that includes AIK’s Kristoffer Nordfeldt and Aston Villa’s Robin Olsen.
In a recent interview with StokeonTrentLive, Johansson expressed his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead at Stoke, stating, “I love a challenge. It suits me well and I can’t wait to get started. I’m itching to go and I definitely want to be part of this journey.”
Sweden, unfortunately, missed out on qualifying for Euro 2024, finishing third in Group F behind Belgium and Austria.
Additionally, Johansson’s new Stoke teammate, Jordan Thompson, has been named in the Northern Ireland squad for their matches against Spain and Andorra.