Wikipedia

Nicolai Vallys

Nicolai Frimodt Vallys (Danish pronunciation: [ˈvælys];[4] born 4 September 1996) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for J1 League club FC Tokyo. He gained one cap for the Denmark national team.[5]

Nicolai Vallys
Vallys in 2022
Personal information
Full name Nicolai Frimodt Vallys[1]
Date of birth (1996-09-04) 4 September 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth Copenhagen, Denmark[2]
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Positions
Team information
Current team
 FC Tokyo
Number 17
Youth career
–2015 BK Skjold
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 BK Skjold
2016–2018 Skovshoved 50 (26)
2018–2019 Roskilde 29 (7)
2019–2022 Silkeborg 88 (26)
2022–2026 Brøndby 110 (31)
2026– FC Tokyo 0 (0)
International career‡
2023 Denmark 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 7 September 2023

Club career

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Early years

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Vallys grew up in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen. He started playing football at BK Skjold, where he made his senior debut in 2015 in the sixth-tier Copenhagen Series.[6]

In 2016, he made a move to Skovshoved, a team competing in the fourth-tier Denmark Series. His debut for the club occurred on 10 August 2016, during a Danish Cup first-round match against BSF. In an impressive start, he scored a brace, securing a 4–1 victory for his team.[7] He made his league debut on 10 September, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute in a 1–1 home draw against B 1908.[8] On 24 September, he scored his first league goal for the club, as Skovshoved lost 3–2 at home to AB Tårnby.[9] As a midfielder, Vallys played a significant role, contributing to the team's promotion to the 2nd Division. Across two seasons at Skovshoved, he showcased his talent, scoring 28 goals in 52 appearances. In June 2018, his skills caught the attention of FC Roskilde, leading to a two-year deal with the club.[10] Transitioning to the second-tier 1st Division, he maintained his impressive performance, scoring seven goals in 29 league appearances.[11]

Silkeborg

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On 1 July 2019, Vallys signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Superliga club Silkeborg, continuing his rapid rise through the Danish divisions.[12] He made his debut for the club, as well as his debut in the highest Danish division, on 14 July 2019 in a 3–0 away loss to Brøndby IF, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute for Marc Rochester Sørensen.[13] He finished his first season with Silkeborg with 34 total appearances in which he scored six goals,[11] as the club suffered relegation to the 1st Division.[14]

During the summer of 2020, he suffered an injury while training with a friend, sidelining him for 2–3 months.[15] On 1 September 2020, he signed a contract extension with Silkeborg until December 2023.[16] He returned to the pitch in October 2020, and played a key role as Silkeborg won promotion back to the Superliga in May 2021.[17]

Brøndby

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2022–23: Controversial arrival

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On 31 August 2022, Vallys joined Brøndby on a four-year contract running until June 2026.[18] Brøndby reportedly paid Silkeborg DKK 22.5 million (€3 million) for the transfer.[19] The move proved controversial among a section of Brøndby's supporters, since Vallys had grown up in Østerbro—the home district of rivals FC Copenhagen, whom he had publicly supported as a youth—and had told Berlingske three months earlier that a future move to FC Copenhagen was not unthinkable.[20][21] After Vallys received threatening messages, director of sports Carsten V. Jensen, head coach Niels Frederiksen and club captain Andreas Maxsø publicly criticised the fans involved.[22][23]

Vallys made his competitive debut for Brøndby on 4 September 2022, starting in a 2–0 away win over AC Horsens at CASA Arena.[24] He scored his first goal a week later on his home debut at Brøndby Stadium, putting the team 2–1 ahead in an eventual 2–2 draw with Randers.[25] He scored a hat-trick in a 5–2 win over Horsens in Brøndby's spring opener on 19 February 2023,[26] a performance that helped earn him the Superliga's Player of the Month award for February.[27]

2023–24: Title challenge and individual honours

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Vallys had perhaps the most prolific season of his career in the 2023–24 season, finishing as Brøndby's top scorer with 13 Superliga goals and eight assists in 31 league appearances as the club mounted a sustained title challenge.[28] After scoring six times in Brøndby's opening eight matches he was named the Superliga's Player of the Month for August and received his first call-up to the Denmark national team in early September.[29][30] On 2 December 2023 he was named Brøndby Player of the Year for the 2023 calendar year, in which he had registered 13 goals and five assists in 31 appearances in all competitions.[31]

On 10 May 2024, with Brøndby leading the Superliga before the final rounds, Vallys was voted Player of the Year of the 2023–24 Superliga by the players' union, the Spillerforeningen, receiving over 30% of the vote ahead of FC Copenhagen's Elias Achouri and teammate Daniel Wass.[32][33] Two weeks later, however, Brøndby's title bid collapsed: a 2–3 home defeat to AGF on 26 May 2024 allowed Midtjylland to be crowned champions instead.[34]

2024–25: Injury and unfulfilled transfer interest

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Vallys (pictured in 2025) struggled with injuries in the 2024–25 season

Vallys was linked with a move abroad in the summer of 2024, with Tipsbladet reporting interest from Mainz 05 of the Bundesliga—then managed by fellow Dane Bo Henriksen—and from Ligue 1 club Brest.[35] No transfer materialised before the European windows closed, and Vallys later said publicly that he had set the matter aside to focus on his recovery from injury.[36] Henriksen confirmed Mainz's earlier interest in an August 2025 interview.[37]

The transfer saga was complicated by a knee injury Vallys sustained in the final training session before the season, which Brøndby initially expected to keep him out for four to five weeks.[38] Further shoulder and calf problems disrupted the autumn, and by early December he had not scored in 11 appearances.[39] Head coach Jesper Sørensen was dismissed on 11 December 2024 after a run of poor results, and assistant Frederik Birk was confirmed as permanent head coach on 8 January 2025.[40][41] Brøndby finished third in the Superliga, securing qualification for the 2025–26 Conference League.

2025–26: Vice-captaincy and contract extension

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Vallys was appointed vice-captain for the 2025–26 season under new club captain Daniel Wass, a development that Bold framed as the completion of a transition from the divisive figure of his 2022 arrival to a senior leader at the club.[42] With one year remaining on his contract and renewed interest from Mainz, Vallys signed a one-year extension on 10 August 2025 running until the summer of 2027; sporting director Benjamin Schmedes said the length of the deal reflected Vallys's stated long-term ambition to play abroad.[43][44]

Four days later, Vallys scored twice in a 4–0 second-leg win over Víkingur Reykjavík that completed a 4–3 aggregate Conference League third qualifying round victory after Brøndby had lost the first leg 3–0.[45] The team was subsequently eliminated by Strasbourg in the play-off round, losing 3–2 on aggregate.[46][47] Birk was dismissed on 9 September 2025 and replaced as head coach by the Welshman Steve Cooper.[48] Cooper's tenure produced uneven results; with the team without a league win since 9 November 2025, Vallys publicly backed the manager in April 2026, acknowledging that the period represented his most prolonged spell of adversity at the club.[49] A 3–2 comeback win at Midtjylland on 17 May 2026, in which Brøndby recovered from 0–2 down inside the final half-hour, secured fourth place in the Superliga and a Europa playoff against rivals Copenhagen for the final UEFA competition place.[50] Copenhagen won the derby 3–1 after extra time at Brøndby Stadium on 21 May; Vallys was withdrawn with a hamstring injury.[51] The defeat eliminated Brøndby from European qualification for the following season. Vallys finished the 2025–26 season as the club's top scorer, netting 10 times in 38 appearances.[11]

Vallys left Brøndby after four seasons, having made 126 appearances and scored 36 goals with 27 assists, and having been named both Danish Superliga Player of the Year and Brøndby's Player of the Year during his time at the club.[52]

FC Tokyo

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On 17 July 2026, Vallys joined J1 League club FC Tokyo on a permanent transfer, where he was given the number 17 shirt.[53][52] Shortly after his move, he suffered a cruciate ligament injury.[54]

International career

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In August 2023, Vallys received his first call-up to the Denmark national team by head coach Kasper Hjulmand, as a substitute for injured Mikkel Damsgaard, for two UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against San Marino and Finland.[55]

Career statistics

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As of match played 21 May 2026[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Skovshoved 2016–17 Denmark Series 201422———2216
2017–18 Danish 2nd Division 301200———3012
Total 502622———5228
Roskilde 2018–19 Danish 1st Division 29700———297
Silkeborg 2019–20 Danish Superliga 29640———336
2020–21 Danish 1st Division 21800———218
2021–22 Danish Superliga 321021———3411
2022–23 Danish Superliga 6200—2[a]0—82
Total 882661—20—9627
Brøndby 2022–23 Danish Superliga 24610———256
2023–24 Danish Superliga 311330———3413
2024–25 Danish Superliga 25542—00—297
2025–26 Danish Superliga 30721—5[b]21[c]03810
Total 1103110—3521012636
FC Tokyo 2026–27 J1 League 000000——00
Career total 2779018600721030398
  1. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  3. ↑ Appearance in Danish Superliga play-off

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ↑ Nicolai Vallys at WorldFootball.net
  2. ↑ Helligsø, Michael (23 February 2020). "SIFs FCK-fan hjerteklubben". Midtjyllands Avis (in Danish). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Nicolai Vallys, statistik fra superligaen, all-time". SuperStats (in Danish). Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  4. ↑ Claes, Lasse (27 February 2023). "Se her: Du udtaler Nicolai Vallys' navn forkert". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. ↑ Nicolai Vallys at Soccerway
  6. ↑ "Nicolai Vallys - Silkeborg". Silkeborg IF. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "BSF – Skovshoved IF //". DBU (in Danish). Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "Skovshoved IF – B 1908 //". DBU (in Danish). Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Skovshoved IF – AB Tårnby //". DBU (in Danish). Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Margren, Sara (18 June 2018). "FC Roskilde snupper Skovshoved-profil". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "N. Vallys: Summary". us.soccerway.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Borup, Anders (1 July 2019). "Silkeborg sikrer sig Roskilde-kant". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Galleri: Brøndby IF-SIF". Silkeborg IF (in Danish). 14 July 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020. Kampen på Brøndby Stadion gav debut til to af de nye i SIFs spillertrup, Nicolai Vallys og Filip Lesniak
  14. ↑ Linddahl, Marie (22 June 2020). "Efter nedrykning erkender Silkeborg-direktør fejl - vi har overvurderet vores spillere". TV 2/Østjylland (in Danish). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Sort uheld: SIF-spiller blev skadet under sin ferie". Midtjyllands Avis (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  16. ↑ Margren, Sara (1 September 2020). "Silkeborg forlænger aftalen med Vallys". bold.dk (in Danish).
  17. ↑ Dalgård, Jonas (11 May 2021). "Vallys jubler: Nu kommer alle de store drenge". bold.dk (in Danish).
  18. ↑ "Brøndby IF henter Nicolai Vallys". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 31 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  19. ↑ Jensen, Kenneth (31 August 2022). "Medier: BIF tæt på køb af SIF-stjerne for 22,5 mio". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  20. ↑ "Vallys åben for FCK-skifte: Jeg er jo fra Østerbro" [Vallys open to a move to FCK: I'm from Østerbro, after all]. Berlingske (in Danish). 22 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  21. ↑ Fallah, Daniel Nøjsen (1 September 2022). "Ups! Ny Brøndby-stjerne elsker Sektion 12 og Parken". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  22. ↑ Sigaard, Anton (2 September 2022). "Brøndby fordømmer Vallys-hadbeskeder fra egne fans". TV 2 Sport (in Danish). Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  23. ↑ Rasmussen, Nikolai Fenger (4 September 2022). "Råber Brøndby-fans op: Stop sindssyge beskeder". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  24. ↑ "Sejr i Horsens". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 4 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Usårlige Randers spolerede Brøndbys fest i sidste sekund". Jyllands-Posten (in Danish). 11 September 2022. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  26. ↑ "Vallys scorer hattrick i målrigt Brøndby-comeback". TV 2 Sport (in Danish). 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  27. ↑ Gram-Hanssen, Lars (5 March 2023). "Brøndby-profil er månedens spiller i Superligaen" [Brøndby star named Superliga Player of the Month]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "Optakt: Info og stats om Brøndby IF – AGF". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 26 May 2024. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  29. ↑ Karlsen, Nanna Møller (3 September 2023). "Nicolai Vallys kåret som månedens spiller i Superligaen for august" [Nicolai Vallys has been named Superliga Player of the Month for August]. 3point (in Danish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "Nicolai Vallys debuterer på det danske A-landshold". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 8 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  31. 1 2 "Nicolai Vallys er Årets Spiller i Brøndby IF 2023". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 2 December 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  32. 1 2 "Nicolai Vallys er Årets Profil i 3F Superliga" [Nicolai Vallys is the Player of the Year in the 3F Superliga]. DBU (in Danish). 5 October 2024. Archived from the original on 27 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "Nicolai Vallys er årets profil i Superligaen". DR (in Danish). 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  34. ↑ Wehlast, Mads Glenn; Grønborg, Matias (26 May 2024). "Brøndby-topscorer kæmper mod tårerne" [Brøndby's top scorer is fighting back the tears]. Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  35. ↑ Abolhosseini, Farzam (21 August 2024). "Afsløring: Mainz 05 jagter Nicolai Vallys" [Exclusive: Mainz 05 are chasing Nicolai Vallys]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 7 March 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  36. ↑ Karlsen, Nanna Møller (3 October 2024). "Nicolai Vallys er åben for at forlænge med Brøndby" [Nicolai Vallys is open to extending his contract with Brøndby]. 3point (in Danish). Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  37. ↑ Kjeldsen, Oscar Valdorff (12 August 2025). "Bo Henriksen tilstår Mainz-interesse for Vallys" [Bo Henriksen admits Mainz were interested in Vallys]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 18 November 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  38. ↑ Svedborg, Mathias Leerborg (29 July 2024). "Vallys afslører tidshorisont for skade" [Vallys reveals the timeframe for the injury]. TV 2 Sport (in Danish). Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  39. ↑ Wehlast, Mads Glenn (6 December 2024). "Vallys klapper i om fremtiden" [Vally remains tight-lipped about the future]. Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 5 September 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  40. ↑ Brock, Jeppe Laursen. "Brøndbys nye træner vil se ild og intensitet: »Vi skal spille på en måde, der harmonerer med dem, vi er på Vestegnen«". Politiken (in Danish). Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  41. ↑ "Frederik Birk udnævnt som ny cheftræner for Brøndby IF". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 8 January 2025. Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  42. ↑ Glud, Rasmus (16 August 2025). "Fra had til kærlighed: Vallys' vej til Brøndby-toppen" [From hate to love: Vallys’ rise to the top at Brøndby]. Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 October 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  43. ↑ "Brøndby IF forlænger med Nicolai Vallys" [Brøndby IF extend Nicolai Vallys' contract]. Brøndby IF (in Danish). 10 August 2025. Archived from the original on 7 November 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  44. ↑ Dalgård, Jonas (11 August 2025). "Nicolai Vallys holder detalje om sin kontrakt tæt til kroppen" [Nicolai Vallys is keeping the details of his contract under wraps]. TV 2 Sport (in Danish). Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  45. ↑ "Brøndby IF leverede et mirakel på hjemmebane mod Víkingur Reykjavík" [Brøndby IF delivered a miracle at home against Víkingur Reykjavík]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). 14 August 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  46. ↑ Mølby, Morten (28 August 2025). "Franskmænd slukker Brøndbys europæiske drøm" [Frenchmen extinguish Brøndby's European dream]. DR Sporten (in Danish). Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  47. ↑ "Brøndby vs Strasbourg". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 August 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  48. ↑ "Brøndby fyrer Frederik Birk". TV 2 Sport (in Danish). 9 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  49. ↑ Mossin, Adam Emil (11 April 2026). "Frustreret Vallys: Tror 100% på Cooper" [A frustrated Vallys: I believe in Cooper 100%]. 3point (in Danish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  50. ↑ "Brøndby slår FCM efter dramatisk comeback". Tipsbladet (in Danish). 17 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  51. ↑ Fallah, Daniel Nøjsen; Wehlast, Mads Glenn (22 May 2026). "Vallys i det røde felt: FCK-bænken provokerede vores fans" [Vallys worked up: the FCK bench provoked our fans]. Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  52. 1 2 "Nicolai Vallys takker af i Brøndby IF" [Nicolai Vallys bids farewell to Brøndby IF] (in Danish). Brøndby IF. 17 July 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  53. ↑ "Announcement of Nikolai Varis Joining on a Permanent Transfer". FC Tokyo (Press release). 17 July 2026. Archived from the original on 17 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  54. ↑ "Nicolai Vallys ramt af korsbåndsskade" [Nicolai Vallys suffers cruciate ligament injury] (in Danish). Bold. 11 August 2026.
  55. ↑ "Hjulmand skifter ud i truppen". sport.tv2.dk (in Danish). 31 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  56. ↑ Thøgersen, Troels Bager (19 May 2022). "Tipsbladet kårer Vallys til Forårets Profil". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  57. ↑ "Her er forårets profil i Superligaen". TV2 Østjylland (in Danish). 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  58. ↑ Gram-Hanssen, Lars (30 November 2023). "Vallys i eksklusiv klub: Det er stort for mig". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  59. ↑ Bak, Daniel (5 March 2023). "Nicolai Vallys kåret som månedens Superliga-spiller". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  60. ↑ Jensen, Mathias Bybjerg (3 September 2023). "Nicolai Vallys er månedens spiller i 3F Superligaen". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  61. ↑ "Nicolai Vallys er Månedens Spiller i februar". 3F Superliga (in Danish). 4 March 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  62. ↑ Bak, Daniel (31 August 2023). "Seks SL-klubber har spillere på månedens hold". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  63. ↑ Bak, Daniel (29 November 2023). "FCM-dominans på månedens hold". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  64. ↑ "Månedens Hold i februar 2024". 3F Superliga (in Danish). 28 February 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  65. ↑ "Månedens Hold i marts". 3F Superliga (in Danish). 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  66. ↑ Okstrøm, Oliver (2 June 2022). "Computeren har talt: De er på årets Superliga-hold". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
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