On the 13th of June, English champions, Manchester City, announced a shock signing worth 60 million Euros from Bundesliga side Dortmund, his name is Erling Haaland.
Since adorning the blue and white jersey of the Blues, Haaland has kept the Premier League on its toes becoming the fastest player to score 15 Premier League goals. He did it in just nine matches. He also became the first player to score in his first four away games in the Premier League.
Haaland’s cousin, Albert Tjaland, is also doing similar wonders, 2,570.3 km away from the city of Manchester in the Norwegian maritime municipality of Molde. The 18-year-old has impressively scored 64 goals in his first 37 games for the youth teams.
This means there could be a new sheriff in town in the next couple of years as the teenage sensation is proving that goal scoring could be in the family pool.
But Who Is Albert Tjaland?
He was born Albert Braut Tjaland and is the nephew of former Manchester City midfielder Alfie Haaland (father to Erling) and cousins with Jonatan Braut Brunes who plays for Strømsgodset as a striker.
Tjaland plays for Norwegian second-tier club Bryne on loan from top-flight club Molde. Standing at 5ft 10inches, lacking in the intimidating physical stature of his cousin, Haaland, whatever shortage there might be the teenager has more than made up for it in his pace and shooting.
Tjaland’s Career
He began his career at his boyhood club in Bryne where he played from the under-13 to the under-19.
He moved on to the Norwegian third division with Bryne 2 where his debut came on 19 October 2019. The youngster was a substitute in a 7–2 home defeat against Viking 2.
He began to attract attention after recording 64 goals in his first 37 games for the youth teams, while he hit the headlines once more after scoring on his professional debut for Molde last year, coming off the bench in the 83rd minute. The teenager has also scored once in two appearances for Norway under 21s.
Taking into account that Haaland took 422 minutes to score his first first-team goal, it remains to be seen when his cousin will achieve it.
Impressive displays in the youth ranks saw a promotion to the first team where he eventually made his debut with them on 2 March 2020 in a friendly game against Egersunds.
