Lincoln City have agreed to sign Danish striker Mikkel Ladefoged from Swedish top flight side Västerås SK for a club record transfer fee of around £4.3 million.
Standing at 6ft 7in tall, the 23-year-old netted nine league goals for his side last season, now signing for the Imps as they look to survive in the EFL Championship after picking up their first win against Bolton Wanderers yesterday.
Ladefoged started his career at Næsby Boldklub in the fourth tier of Danish football, before making the move to top flight outfit Sønderjyske Fodbold in 2022 where he spent three years and in that time was sent out on loan to both Næstved Boldklub and Esbjerg fB.
He joined Västerås SK in 2025, scoring 19 goals in just 28 games for the Swedish side and earning himself a big move to the second tier of English football with Lincoln City.
On moving to the ProAmpac Stadium, Ladefoged said: “I’m really glad to be here – the role the head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw set out for me in the team is really exciting.
“It’s a dream to play in England and I feel ready to take the next step in my football career.”
“There are a lot of games and it’s a hard league, but I think Lincoln fits my style of play. I know there are going to be plenty of tough games, but I’m really looking forward to playing in the Championship.
“I always want to score goals. That’s my main priority. I’m a target man, but I wouldn’t say I’m only a target man. I can run in behind as well and I’m good with my feet, so I’m a little bit of a mix.”
The Danish striker becomes the fourth recognised striker to join the Imps this summer, competing for minutes in the starting 11 with the likes of Mason Melia, Tanto Olaofe and Ethan Wheatley, as well as already established City players like Rob Street and Freddie Draper.
“Despite a lot that has been said publicly, we have kept our counsel, and we will continue to do so. All we will say though is that Mikkel is a top character, who has handled a very challenging situation extremely well, and he has continually shown a huge desire to sign for Lincoln City initially ahead of clubs in the Eredivisie and Bundesliga and then, at the end of the process, other Championship clubs.”