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Edvin Kurtulus
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Edvin Kurtulus (Albanian: Edvin Kurtulush, Turkish: Edvin Kurtuluş; born 5 March 2000) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for Ludogorets Razgrad and the Sweden national team.
Key Information
Club career
[edit]Halmstads BK
[edit]At the age of five, Kurtulus started to play football with local club Halmstads BK.[2] In 2018 and 2019, as a youth player, he went on trial with both Fenerbahçe in Turkey and Copenhagen in Denmark.[3][4]
On 20 December 2018, Kurtulus signed his first professional contract with Halmstad.[5] On 5 May 2019, he made his debut in Superettan, Sweden's second tier, in a 0–1 loss to Östers IF.[6] After impressing manager Magnus Haglund, Kurtulus ended the season making 11 league appearances, of which he started ten, mostly as a right-back.[7]
In 2020, Kurtulus continued as a starter for Halmstad when the club won Superettan and secured a promotion to Allsvenskan. He made 18 league appearances in total, mostly playing as a centre-back, before his season was cut short in September when he was diagnosed with pericarditis.[7][8][9]
In 2021, Kurtulus was a key player for Halmstad in Allsvenskan, playing 29 league games. The club eventually suffered from a relegation after losing to Helsingborgs IF with 1–3 on aggregate in the relegation play-offs.[10]
Hammarby IF
[edit]On 12 August 2021, Kurtulus signed a three-year deal with fellow Allsvenskan club Hammarby IF, effective in January 2022.[11] On 20 February 2022, he made his debut with Hammarby in the 2021–22 Svenska Cupen group stage against Falkenbergs FF after coming on as a substitute at 62nd minute in place of Simon Sandberg.[12] His league debut with Hammarby came on 2 April in a 2–1 home win against Helsingborgs IF after coming on as a substitute at 83rd minute in place of Richard Magyar.[13] Seven days after league debut, Kurtulus scored his first goal for Hammarby in his fifth appearance for the club in a 1–5 away win over GIF Sundsvall in Allsvenskan.[14] Kurtulus featured in the final of the 2021–22 Svenska Cupen, in which Hammarby lost by 4–5 on penalties to Malmö FF after the game ended in a 0–0 draw.[15][16] In total, Kurtulus went on to make 27 league appearances for the club, that finished 3rd in the 2022 Allsvenskan table.[17]
On 17 February 2023, Kurtulus signed a new three-year contract with Hammarby.[18] On 2 April, he was appointed as the new vice-captain of the club, behind Nahir Besara.[19] Throughout the 2023 season, Kurtulus made 27 league appearances in Allsvenskan, although Hammarby disappointedly finished 7th in the table.[17] In August the same year, the club reportedly accepted an offer worth around €3 million from Sturm Graz for his transfer, but Kurtulus turned down the move.[20]
Ludogorets Razgrad
[edit]In June 2024, he joined Bulgarian team Ludogorets Razgrad.[21]
International career
[edit]Kosovo
[edit]Under-21
[edit]On 29 August 2020, Kurtulus received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against England U21,[22] and made his debut in the 0–6 loss after being named in the starting line-up.[23][24]
Senior
[edit]On 23 May 2022, Kurtulus received a call-up from Kosovo for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches against Cyprus, Greece (twice) and Northern Ireland.[25] Four days later, the Football Federation of Kosovo confirmed through a press conference that Kurtulus will not be part of the team after deciding to represent Sweden national team.[26][27]
Sweden
[edit]On 30 May 2022, the Swedish Football Association announced that FIFA had given Kurtulus permission to play for their national team and that he had been called-up to replace the injured Victor Lindelöf and Martin Olsson for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches against Slovenia, Norway (twice) and Serbia.[28] His debut with Sweden came on 9 June in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League match against Serbia after coming on as a substitute in the 42nd minute in place of Joakim Nilsson.[29]
Personal life
[edit]Kurtulus was born in Halmstad, Sweden to parents with roots from Prizren.[30] His grandparents had emigrated as muhaxhir to Turkey where they took the surname Kurtuluş (meaning "liberation" in Turkish) due to the Turkish surname law. In the 1960s, Kurtulus' family migrated to Sweden, where Edvin's father was born.[31]
Edvin's younger brother Bleon Kurtulus is also a professional footballer and plays for his hometown club of Halmstads BK.[32]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Halmstads BK | 2019 | Superettan | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |
| 2020 | Superettan | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2021 | Allsvenskan | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| Total | 58 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 66 | 1 | ||
| Hammarby IF | 2022 | Allsvenskan | 27 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1[b] | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | |||
| Total | 66 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 4 | ||
| Ludogorets Razgrad | 2024–25 | Bulgarian First League | 26 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 40 | 1 |
| 2025–26 | Bulgarian First League | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 2 | |
| Total | 31 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 53 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 155 | 5 | 23 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 196 | 8 | ||
- ^ Appearances in the Allsvenskan relegation play-offs
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
[edit]- As of 16 June 2023[35]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | |||
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 0 | |
References
[edit]- ^ Supportrarnas Matchprogram NR 424. Stockholm: Supportrarnas Matchprogram. 3 August 2023. p. 17.
- ^ "HBK-spelaren: Edvin Kurtulus" [HBK player: Edvin Kurtulus] (in Swedish). Halmstads BK. 15 October 2019.
- ^ "Krulj: "Det är tre spännande talanger"" [Krulj: "They are three exciting talents"] (in Swedish). Hallandsposten. 20 December 2018.
- ^ "Kurtulus spelade med FC Köpenhamn mot HIF" [Kurtulus played with FC Copenhagen against HIF] (in Swedish). Halmstads BK. 22 March 2019.
- ^ "HBK skriver kontrakt med tre talanger" [Halmstad BK signs three talents] (in Swedish). Halmstads BK. 20 December 2018.
- ^ "Edvin Kurtulus tankar inför Dalkurd – HBK" [Edvin Kurtulus' thoughts on Dalkurd-HBK] (in Swedish). Halmstads BK. 7 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Kurtulus hoppas på fortsatt succé på nygammal position" [Kurtulus is hopeful of success in an old position] (in Swedish). Unicoach. 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Edvin tvingas till vila" [Edvin is forced to rest] (in Swedish). Halmstads BK. 8 September 2020.
- ^ "HBK vinner Superettan!" [HBK is the winner of Superettan!] (in Swedish). Halmstads BK. 28 November 2020.
- ^ "Helsingborg tillbaka i Allsvenskan" [Helsingborg is back in Allsvenskan] (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Hektiskt avslut på deadline day – tre avtal klara" [Hectic end to deadline day – three agreements ready] (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Hammarby vs. Falkenberg 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ "Hammarby vs. Helsingborg 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "GIF Sundsvall vs. Hammarby 1–5". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ "Straffar gav MFF första cupguldet på 33 år" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Bajen golvat från elva meter i titelmatchen" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Edvin Kurtulus" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Hammarby förlänger med Edvin Kurtulus" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Årets lagkaptener utsedda" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ ""Känner att jag har större potential än det"" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ Mladenova, Kremena (24 June 2024). "Лудогорец представи официално новите си попълнения Дуарте и Куртулуш" (in Bulgarian). bta.bg. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Prekazi publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjen kundër Anglisë" [Prekazi publishes the list of footballers for the match against England] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Kosova – Angli, publikohen formacionet zyrtare" [Kosovo – England, official lineups are published] (in Albanian). Kallxo. 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Edvin debuterade" [Edvin made his debut] (in Swedish). Halmstads BK. 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Alain Giresse publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet e qershorit" [Alain Giresse publishes the list of footballers for the June matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Kurtulus braktis Kosovën për Suedinë, Giresse: Jam i zhgënjyer me vendimin e tij" [Kurtulus leaves Kosovo for Sweden, Giresse: I'm disappointed with his decision] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Edvin Kurtulus vill representera Sverige" [Edvin Kurtulus wants to represent Sweden] (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Två återbud första samlingsdagen" [Two rebids on the first day of the meeting] (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 30 May 2022.
- ^ "Orutinerat Sverige förlorade mot Serbien" [Untrained Sweden lost to Serbia] (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 9 June 2022.
- ^ Kosovan Football [@kosovanfooty_en] (29 August 2020). "A new name seen in the #Kosovo U21 squad: Edvin Kurtulus! Born in Sweden, but of family origin from Prizren, the 20 y/o right back is a regular starter for Halmstad BK. Welcome home young man!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Profilen: Edvin Kurtulus" [Profile: Edvin Kurtulus] (in Swedish). Halmstads BK. 12 March 2020.
- ^ Asahara, Makoto (25 May 2024). "Bleon Kurtulus om stödet från brorsan Edvin" [Bleon Kurtulus about the support from his brother Edvin]. aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ Edvin Kurtulus at Soccerway
- ^ Edvin Kurtulus at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish)
- ^ "Edvin Kurtulus". eu-football.info. 9 June 2022.
External links
[edit]- Edvin Kurtulus at Soccerway
- Edvin Kurtulus at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish)
Edvin Kurtulus
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Upbringing in Halmstad
Edvin Kurtulus was born on 5 March 2000 in Halmstad, Sweden.[1] He grew up in Halmstad in a family with Kosovo Albanian roots from Prizren.[8] Kurtulus began playing football in Sweden and joined the youth setup of Halmstads BK at age five, participating in local youth leagues that laid the groundwork for his development.[1][8]Family heritage
Edvin Kurtulus is of Kosovo Albanian descent, with his family originating from Prizren in Kosovo.[9][8] His family's heritage traces back to Kosovo Albanian roots from Prizren, with earlier connections to Turkey; his grandfather immigrated to Sweden in the 1960s, where his father was born.[10] As a result of his heritage, Kurtulus holds dual citizenship of Sweden and Kosovo.[8]Club career
Halmstads BK (2019–2021)
Kurtulus signed his first professional contract with his hometown club Halmstads BK on 20 December 2018, marking his transition from the youth academy to the senior squad at the age of 18.[11] This deal integrated him into the first team ahead of the 2019 Superettan season, where he had already shown promise in the U19 and U21 setups. He made his senior debut on 5 May 2019, starting as a right-back in a 0–1 home defeat to Östers IF in the Superettan, under outgoing coach Igor Krulj.[12] Kurtulus quickly established himself, appearing in 11 league matches that season and contributing 2 assists, while also featuring in 4 Svenska Cupen games.[13] In the 2020 Superettan campaign, Kurtulus played a key role in Halmstads BK's promotion to Allsvenskan, starting 14 of the club's 30 league matches as they clinched the title with 64 points. He scored his sole goal for the club that year, a right-footed shot in a 2–0 win over Östers IF, helping solidify the defense during a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Following promotion, Kurtulus adapted to top-flight football in 2021 under coach Magnus Haglund, who had taken over in May 2019 and guided the team through their Superettan success.[14] Primarily deployed as a centre-back but versatile enough to cover right-back, he made 29 Allsvenskan appearances and added 2 assists, featuring in crucial fixtures during Halmstads BK's relegation battle. The club finished 14th and entered the relegation playoffs, where Kurtulus started both legs in a 1–3 aggregate loss to Helsingborgs IF, confirming their drop to Superettan. Over his three seasons, he accumulated 58 league appearances and 1 goal, developing into a reliable defender known for his physical presence and tactical awareness.[13]Hammarby IF (2022–2024)
In January 2022, Edvin Kurtulus joined Hammarby IF on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract that began immediately.[15] He quickly established himself as a key defender in the Allsvenskan, contributing to Hammarby's third-place finish in the 2022 season with 27 league appearances and 2 goals, including his first for the club in a 5–1 away victory over GIF Sundsvall. Over his three seasons at the club, Kurtulus amassed 66 Allsvenskan appearances and 3 goals, showcasing consistent defensive reliability while occasionally contributing offensively from set pieces.[16] In the 2023 season, under head coach Martí Cifuentes, Kurtulus signed a new three-year extension and reflected his growing leadership within the squad. He made 27 league appearances that year as Hammarby finished seventh, and featured prominently in European competition, starting in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying ties against FC Twente where his defensive organization helped secure a competitive first-leg draw despite the aggregate elimination. His performances underscored Hammarby's push for European spots, blending physicality and ball-playing ability in a backline that conceded relatively few goals in domestic play. Kurtulus's tenure at Hammarby concluded in June 2024 when he departed for Ludogorets Razgrad in a €1.5 million deal, marking a significant sale for the club and his transition to international football.Ludogorets Razgrad (2024–present)
On 28 June 2024, Kurtulus joined Ludogorets Razgrad from Hammarby IF on a three-year contract, marking his first move abroad after a transfer fee reported at €1.5 million.[1][17] As a centre-back, he quickly integrated into the squad, becoming a regular starter under manager Georgi Dermendzhiev during the early part of the 2024/25 season.[18] Kurtulus made 35 appearances across all competitions in the 2024–25 season, contributing significantly to Ludogorets' successful defense of the Bulgarian First League title, where the team secured their 13th consecutive championship.[18] His defensive solidity was pivotal in the league campaign, including key clean sheets in crucial matches, while he also played a role in the Bulgarian Cup victory, helping the side lift the trophy in May 2025.[19] In European competitions, Kurtulus featured prominently in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League qualifiers, where Ludogorets advanced through the third qualifying round before dropping to the UEFA Europa League group stage after losing in the play-offs. He started in several qualifying ties, providing stability at the back during high-stakes encounters against teams like Dinamo Batumi and Qarabağ.[18] In the Europa League group phase, his appearances helped the team compete against stronger opponents, though they exited in the knockout play-offs.[20] Adapting to the physicality and tactical demands of the Bulgarian league proved challenging initially due to the language barrier and differing playing style from the Allsvenskan, but Kurtulus credited team support and rigorous training for his smooth transition.[21] Entering the 2025/26 season, he continued as a key defender; as of November 2025, he has made 11 appearances with 2 goals and 1 assist, including a headed goal in a league fixture that underscored his growing attacking threat from set pieces.[18][22]International career
Kosovo U21 team
Edvin Kurtulus was eligible to represent Kosovo at the international level due to his family's heritage from Prizren.[10] On 29 August 2020, he received his first call-up to the Kosovo U21 team for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against England.[23] His debut came on 4 September 2020 in that same fixture, where he started as a right-back and played the full 90 minutes in a 0–6 defeat at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina.[10][23] Between August 2020 and May 2022, Kurtulus earned 12 caps for Kosovo U21 without scoring any goals, primarily featuring as a centre-back in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.[3] During the 2021–2022 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign, he served as captain for several matches, including the 7 September 2021 qualifier against England U21, which ended in a 0–2 loss at Stadium MK.[24][25] In that post-match interview, Kurtulus highlighted his team's improved performance in the second half despite the defeat.[24] In 2022, following his strong performances with Kosovo U21 and an initial call-up to the senior Kosovo squad, Kurtulus opted to pursue opportunities with the Sweden senior national team, leveraging his birth and upbringing in Sweden under FIFA eligibility rules.[26][27]Sweden national team
Kurtulus, born in Halmstad, Sweden, to parents of Kosovo Albanian heritage, opted to pursue a senior international career with Sweden despite his prior commitments to the Kosovo U21 team, where he served as captain. His choice was driven primarily by his lifelong connection to Sweden through birth and upbringing, allowing him to fulfill eligibility under FIFA rules for the country of his nationality. He received his first senior call-up to the Sweden national team in June 2022 for the UEFA Nations League under coach Janne Andersson. Kurtulus made his debut as a substitute in the match against Serbia on 9 June 2022, entering the game at the 42nd minute to bolster the defense in a 0–1 defeat.[6] He started the following match against Norway on 12 June 2022. His subsequent appearances included starts against Norway (12 June 2022) and in friendlies against Iceland (January 2023) and New Zealand (June 2023, as a substitute).[6] As of November 2025, he had accumulated 4 caps for Sweden, all without scoring, reflecting his role as a defensive specialist.[6] Following Jon Dahl Tomasson's appointment as coach in 2024, Kurtulus has not earned additional caps as of November 2025, though he remains eligible and has been noted for his club performances.[28]Personal life and playing style
Personal details
Edvin Kurtulus shares a close relationship with his younger brother, Bleon Kurtulus, a professional footballer who joined Halmstads BK in 2023 and made his senior debut for the club in 2024.[29][30] Kurtulus maintains a high level of privacy regarding his personal relationships, with no publicly available details about a partner or children as of 2025.[1] Following his transfer to Ludogorets Razgrad in July 2024, Kurtulus has resided in Razgrad, Bulgaria, while continuing to visit family in Sweden and Kosovo.[21]Style of play
Edvin Kurtulus is a versatile defender who primarily operates as a centre-back but can also effectively play at right-back, showcasing adaptability across defensive roles. His height of 1.85 metres contributes to his strong aerial presence, where he excels in winning duels, listed as one of his key strengths by performance analysts.[31][32] Kurtulus demonstrates solid positioning and tackling abilities, making him a reliable presence in defensive transitions. He is particularly noted for his ball-playing qualities from the back, with a pass accuracy of 83.3% recorded in Europa League matches during the 2024/25 season, enabling progressive distribution under pressure. Leadership has been a hallmark of his game, evident from his role as captain of the Kosovo U21 team before switching allegiance to Sweden.[33][34] At Hammarby IF, he was described by his coach as one of the best defenders in the Allsvenskan, highlighting his work rate and composure.[35] While Kurtulus has no major weaknesses identified in scouting reports, he has shown occasional disciplinary issues, receiving two yellow cards in 12 appearances during the 2025/26 First League season as of November 2025.[36] His evolution as a player has been marked by progression from a promising talent at Halmstads BK to a more refined and authoritative figure at Hammarby and now Ludogorets Razgrad, where he has adapted to higher competitive demands in European football. Observers have praised his development into a modern defender with technical proficiency and defensive solidity.[22][37]Honours
Club honours
Kurtulus has won the following club honours in his professional career: Ludogorets Razgrad- Bulgarian First League: 2024–25[4]
- Bulgarian Cup: 2024–25[38]
- Bulgarian Super Cup: 2025[1]
International honours
Edvin Kurtulus has yet to win any senior international honours with the Sweden national team. No honours at youth international level with Kosovo U21.[6]Career statistics
Club appearances and goals
Edvin Kurtulus's club career statistics encompass appearances, goals, and assists across domestic leagues, cups, and European competitions, totaling 203 appearances, 7 goals, and 11 assists as of November 15, 2025.[18] His contributions are broken down by club as follows: at Halmstads BK, he recorded 63 appearances, 1 goal, and 4 assists; at Hammarby IF, 78 appearances, 4 goals, and 4 assists; and at Ludogorets Razgrad, 62 appearances, 2 goals, and 3 assists, including activity in the 2025/26 season.[18] Competition-wise, the majority of his outings have been in domestic leagues, supplemented by cup matches and European fixtures, such as 15 appearances in UEFA Champions League qualifiers and 8 in the UEFA Europa League.[18] The following table summarizes his statistics by season, club, and key competitions:| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–2021 | Halmstads BK | Superettan / Allsvenskan | 55 | 1 | 4 |
| 2019–2021 | Halmstads BK | Svenska Cupen | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–2024 | Hammarby IF | Allsvenskan | 70 | 4 | 4 |
| 2022–2024 | Hammarby IF | Svenska Cupen / ECL Qualifiers | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024–2025 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Parva Liga / Bulgarian Cup | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024–2025 | Ludogorets Razgrad | UEFA Champions League Qualifiers / UEFA Europa League | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025–2026 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Parva Liga | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025–2026 | Ludogorets Razgrad | UEFA Champions League Qualifiers / UEFA Europa League | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | All Clubs | All Competitions | 203 | 7 | 11 |
International appearances and goals
Edvin Kurtulus has made a total of 16 international appearances across youth and senior levels, with no goals scored. His international career began with the Kosovo under-21 team, where he featured in 12 matches from 2020 to 2022, primarily in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.[3] Kurtulus switched allegiance to represent Sweden at senior level starting in 2022, accumulating 4 caps by November 2025, all as a defender without contributing goals. These appearances comprise 2 in the UEFA Nations League and 2 in friendlies.[6] The following table summarizes his international statistics by team, year range, and competition:| Team | Years | Competition | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kosovo U21 | 2020–2022 | UEFA U21 Championship qualifiers | 12 | 0 |
| Sweden senior | 2022–2025 | UEFA Nations League | 2 | 0 |
| Sweden senior | 2022–2025 | Friendlies | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 0 |