Hákon Valdimarsson

Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson (born 13 October 2001) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Brentford and the Iceland national team.

Handball
Hákon Valdimarsson played handball in Reykjavík for Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur. He played as an outfield player.

KR
After playing for their handball team, Valdimarsson joined the Under 19 football team when they needed a goalkeeper. He played with them for a while, until the first team needed a second goalkeeper.

Grótta
Valdimarsson joined Grótta in 2015. After playing as an outfield player for the youth sides of KR, he first played as a goalkeeper after his switch to Grótta in 2015, appearing as an outfield player for Grótta's youth sides as late as 2017. He made his senior debut in the last game of the 2017 1. deild season as an already relegated Grótta lost 2–1 to Leiknir Reykjavík. Hákon then played in 15 out of 22 games in the 2018 2. deild as Grótta placed second and were promoted back to 1. deild. In the 2019 season, Hákon played in all 22 matches as Grótta became champions and were promoted to the top tier Úrvalsdeild for the first time. In 2020 he played all 18 matches as Grótta were relegated back to the 1. deild. It was announced on the 30 April 2021 that Hákon had signed with Allsvenskan team IF Elfsborg and that Hákon would join them in the summer. Hákon played nine matches for Grótta in the first half of the 2021 season before joining Elfsborg in July.

IF Elfsborg
It was announced on the 30 April 2021 that Hákon had signed with Allsvenskan team IF Elfsborg and that Hákon would join them in the summer, Hákon then joined formally in July. Hákon made his Allsvenskan debut for Elfsborg in a 1–0 win against IFK Göteborg on 1 October 2021 and proceeded to play in the next four matches. Hákon was on the bench for the first half of the 2022 season, before he was given a chance to start in a 1–0 loss against Kalmar FF on 24 July 2022. The following game he was on the bench but a second start of the season in a 1–1 draw against Mjällby AIF saw him cement his place as the starting goalkeeper for IF Elfsborg. Hákon started all but one game in the 2023 season, being sent off in the 29th minute of a 1–0 loss to IFK Värnamo on 2 September 2023. Hákon conceded 22 goals in 29 league appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets. At the end of the season, Hákon was given the Allsvenskan goalkeeper of the year award.

Brentford
On 26 January 2024, Hákon signed a contract until June 2028 with Premier League club Brentford, for a reported £2.6 million transfer fee.

International career
Hákon has featured for the U-18, U-19 and U-21 Iceland youth teams, debuting in 2018, 2019 and 2021 respectively. On 12 November 2021 Hákon received his first call-up to the senior squad when Patrik Gunnarsson had to withdraw through injury.

Honours
Grótta Allsvenskan
 * 1. deild: 2019
 * Goalkeeper of the season, 2023 (for Elfsborg)