Axel Henriksson
.jpg) Henriksson in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Per Axel Nils Henriksson | ||
| Date of birth | 16 April 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| IK Zenith | |||
| –2021 | BK Häcken | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | BK Häcken | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2025 | GAIS | 75 | (26) |
| 2025– | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 August 2025 | |||
Per Axel Nils Henriksson (born 16 April 2002) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers.
Career
Henriksson hails from Björlanda,[1] and started his youth career in IK Zenith before joining BK Häcken's academy.[2] He also participated in athletics as a child.[1]
For Häcken's senior team, he featured in three pre-season matches in 2021.[3] He made his debut for Häcken in March 2021, in the 2020–21 Svenska Cupen semi-final against Västerås.[4] He then missed the rest of the 2021 season through knee injury. He was not offered a contract in Häcken and instead signed for GAIS in the Ettan, immediately becoming a starting player.[3][5]
Henriksson scored 11 goals in 2022 to help secured promotion to the Superettan for GAIS.[1] In 2023, GAIS secured its second straight promotion, with Henriksson described as a "crowd favourite".[6][7][8]
Henriksson made his Allsvenskan debut in March 2024 against Brommapojkarna.[4] He scored his first double goal in Allsvenskan against Elfsborg in May 2024.[9] He was described as a "key player" for GAIS.[10]
At the same time, he became somewhat controversial. After scoring in the GAIS–IFK Göteborg derby in May 2024, Henriksson was heard singing "Pissa, pissa på, pissa på IFK" after the match.[11] In October 2024, he apologized after praising the use of bangers in the stands.[12]
On 6 August 2025, Henriksson signed for Blackburn Rovers on a four-year deal with an option to extend for a further season.[13]
Personal life
In February 2022, he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.[14]
Career statistics
- As of match played 12 August 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| BK Häcken | 2021 | Allsvenskan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| GAIS | 2022 | Ettan Fotboll | 20 | 11 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 11 | ||
| 2023 | Superettan | 17 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 6 | |||
| 2024 | Superettan | 26 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 8 | |||
| 2025 | Superettan | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| Total | 75 | 26 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 80 | 26 | ||||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2025–26 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Career total | 76 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 26 | ||
References
- ^ a b c "Ingen prövning stoppar Gais nya stjärna Axel Henriksson". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). 12 October 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Gais stjärna stöttar IK Zenith mot IFK Göteborg". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). 23 August 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ a b Lund, Oskar (13 May 2022). "Missade ett helt år – nu målsuccé för Gais". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ a b Axel Henriksson at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Ratades av Häcken – nu gör Henriksson, Åberg och Milovanovic succé i Gais". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). 24 May 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Tokhyllningen av Axel Henriksson – tillbaka för Gais". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). 6 June 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Axel Henriksson om fansens kärlek och nya kontraktet". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). 18 August 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Karlsson, Hanna (23 November 2023). "Henrikssons resa – från skadad till publikfavorit: "Känner kärleken hela tiden"". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Werdelin, Lucas (19 May 2024). "Matchhjälten Henriksson hyllas stort: "Old school-spelare"" (in Swedish). Fotbolldirekt. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "GAIS säljer Axel Henriksson till Blackburn Rovers". www.gais.se. 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Gais-hjältens firande – dissade IFK Göteborg". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). 7 May 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Junelind, Hector (1 October 2024). "Axel Henriksson pudlar – efter uttalandet om bangers i SVT". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Axel arrives!". Blackburn Rovers FC. 6 August 2025.
- ^ Hellberg, Magnus (19 October 2024). "Allsvenska stjärnan Axel, 22, drabbades av crohns". Hälsoliv (in Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved 19 November 2024.