The San Jose Earthquakes’ Swedish makeover continued Friday, when the club announced that they’ve signed left back Joel Qwiberg to a multi-year contract.
Qwiberg, 25, joins San Jose after two seasons with Swedish club IF Brommapojkarna. He joined the club in January 2016 while the club was in the Swedish third-division and helped them earn back-to-back promotions to the second-division and top flight in 2016 and 2017. He tallied four assists in 30 league appearances while helping Brommapojkarna win the Superettan and earn promotion to the Allsvenskan this year.
“Joel is a technically gifted and hard-working player that allows us to strengthen our defense in more than one formation,” Earthquakes GM Jesse Fioranelli said in a statement released by the club. “He was pursued by several first-division clubs in Sweden and other parts of Europe and we’re happy to have reached an agreement to bring him to San Jose.”
Qwiberg began his career with fourth-tier FC Gute in Sweden before moving to third-division side Vasalunds IF in January 2012. He transferred to FC Den Bosch of the Dutch second division in July 2014 before returning to Vasalunds the following February. He’s never played for a first-division club.
San Jose hired Swedish head coach Mikael Stahre in November and were reported earlier this week to be interested in Swedish striker Magnus Eriksson.
