Vetle Walle Egeli - Sandefjord’s Promising Full Back
In this article, we profile one of Norway’s most interesting young defensive talents and look ahead to what the future holds for him.
Sandefjord have a very exciting full back situation, with two very good players in this position in the form of Christopher Cheng and Vetle Walle Egeli. Both are considered excellent talents, but at just 20 years of age and three years Cheng’s junior, Egeli is seen as the better overall prospect.
Egeli burst onto the scene in the 2023 Eliteserien season, registering over 2,300 minutes and was expected to kick on in the following campaign. However, more competition for places has led to an interesting year in which he hasn’t necessarily been set back, but has been forced to scrap, be patient, and become more mentally resilient.
Egeli is a more natural left back but can play equally as well on the right hand side of defence. He’s nearly two-footed, even if his left is more natural. He’s been operating in a Sandefjord team which has been battling relegation in both of the last two seasons so has not always been able to showcase his offensive talents.
In his professional career, Egeli has only scored one goal and supplied four assists. In 2024, he averaged just 0.02 xG per 90 mins and 0.07 xGA, which are obviously low numbers. Egeli did however rank in the top 25 for his position in progressive runs, progressive passes and dribbles.
His positioning is strong with a high number of interceptions in his own and central third of the field. Egeli has played generally a split number of minutes at both left and right back this season so his versatility must be considered one of his major qualities.
On the ball, Egeli has been part of a Sandefjord team which has averaged over 50% possession and mid rank in terms of PPDA for and against stats. He ranks in the top 10 in the Eliteserien for average pass length amongst full backs (20.73m) and is roughly in the top 30 or 40 players for deep completed crosses and deep completions, as per Wyscout data.
With 76% passing accuracy and keeping possession 81% of the time after dribbles, he is a safe pair of hands on the ball. In the xG chain and xG buildup he is mid ranking compared to other players in his positions.
The big problem that Egeli faced this season was competition from within his own team. Christopher Cheng was so impressive in pre-season that he wrestled the starting spot off Egeli in the first few game weeks. He started just one of the first 12 Eliteserien fixtures in 2024 and had to wait for a free slot at right back to get back into the team.
He did, however, finish the season very strongly, starting all the last seven fixtures - in which Sandefjord won four times to secure survival. He made the most of Cheng’s injury during that period and the question now is what happens next?
There is surely only room for one main man at left back for Sandefjord and Egeli might be in the shop window. The team averaged 1.10 points per game with him in the team and 1.42 points per game in matches he started, which would rank more than nearly anyone at Sandefjord this season who played significant minutes.
He doesn’t turn 21 until June and looks the better long term prospect and someone who still has a high stock reputation from his 2023 campaign. At this age he could still be cultured into any system so will be on the radar for both domestic clubs and those on the continent in the winter transfer window.
Egeli has no doubt matured mentally from the stiff competition faced and it may have fuelled his desire to further his career. The 2024 season will probably serve him very well in the long term and if he can’t be guaranteed consistent and regular minutes then his short term future is probably moving away from Sandefjord.
His brother, Sindre Walle Egeli has a market value of close to £10 million and currently plays for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland. Stock is high within his family and this reputation should help his career prospects in time. He is the type of player with a potentially high ceiling with the right more and right type of nurturing.