Sam Rogers has traded one Norwegian Eliteserien club for another in a new chapter of his career.
Rogers has joined Lillestrom on a free transfer from Rosenborg, both clubs announced Thursday. The Washington native signed a contract through the 2025-26 season and will immediately be eligible for Lillestrom in Eliteserien action.
“I’m looking forward to playing for Lillestrøm. I hope to contribute a lot in both boxes and help the team get better,” said Rogers in a club interview.
“It’s a player we know very well and as long as we play with three stoppers we need to have good coverage at that position,” Lillestrom sporting director Simon Mesfin said. “We get a stopper with a lot of power and that has a good, strong mentality. We will play to his strengths that dress LSK very well as a club. He’s 24 years old, but he already has a lot of experience — and still development potential.”
Rogers, 24, joined Rosenborg in 2022 and proceeded to make 38 combined appearances for the top-flight side, scoring six goals. He previously played for Tacoma Defiance and OKC Energy in the United States while also spending time in 2021 on loan with HamKam.
A former U.S. youth national team defender, Rogers made his senior USMNT debut earlier this year.
Lillestrom is five-time winners of the Eliteserien, last capturing the league title in 1989.
I would’ve like to seen play in the most recent GC. Alas the Lefty paired w/ Justin Glad was not to be.
looks to me like a “not in the plans” move because it’s sliding back down the norwegian ladder to lillestrom after describing rosenborg as the biggest norwegian club when he moved there with his old coach. he started the first part of the season then was benched end of the first phase and allowed to leave. (and fwiw rosenborg looks like they were losing a lot midseason, and then started winning when he got benched…….). transfer deal is for half the fee as when rosenborg bought him.