Transferred to SC Heerenveen on August 30, 2017.
Naess is young, talented defender that brings a significant amount of experience from the topflight in Norway. He should fill a starting role at center back in 2017 but is more than capable of playing defensive midfielder.
OUTSIDE MLS: Naess began his professional career with Norwegian topflight side Vålerenga in 2012, where he made five appearances as a 19-year-old. He moved to Stabaek to start the 2013 season and immediately helped the team clinch promotion to the Tippeligaen with a second-place finish after making 21 appearances (12 starts). Back in the topflight to start the 2014 campaign, Naess scored his first professional goal in the season-opener that year against Sogndal on March 30. He also helped Stabaek reach the Norwegian Cup semifinals. The following season, in 2015, he made a career-best 29 appearances, scoring his second professional goal on August 16, 2015 against Lilleström SK and adding his first professional assist two weeks later against Odds BK. He again helped Stabaek to a semifinal run in the Norwegian Cup, playing in five matches and scoring in the semifinals against Rosenborg BK. Following a third place Tippeligaen finish in 2015, Stabaek advanced to the 2016-17 Europa League first qualifying round. Naess started each of those matches, on June 30, 2016 and July 7, 2016, both against Welsh side Connah's Quay Nomads.
