From football family to exactly where she belongs. The story of Julie Blakstad

Norway's women national team is full of young talents and Julie Blakstad is undoubtedly one of its brightest stars. Tottenham Hotspur recently unearthed a gem in the versatile left-sided player, but football has been part of her life long before north London came calling. Her father, Even Blakstad, enjoyed a professional career as a defender in Norway, making the sport a natural part of Julie's childhood.

Blakstad arrives in London on the back of an outstanding season. While wearing the Hammarby jersey, she scored four goals against Alingsås and netted the winner in the Stockholm derby against Djurgården, performances that made it clear she was ready for another chance at the highest level.

Tottenham acted quickly. Their recruitment strategy in Sweden and Norway's women's football leagues has paid off repeatedly, and Blakstad became the latest addition. She also found familiar faces waiting for her in North London, including Norway teammate Signe Gaupset and former Hammarby forward Cathinka Tandberg.

She wasted little time establishing herself in the starting XI and played an important role in one of Tottenham's strongest campaigns in recent years. Her club form has also translated onto the international stage, where she has cemented her place in Norway's starting lineup. The Norway women's national team now turn their attention to qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, entering the autumn play-offs against Romania as clear favourites.

Her performances inevitably raise the question of whether Manchester City let a remarkable talent slip away. But perhaps Blakstad's journey tells a more valuable story. Sometimes a dream move does not work out immediately, and that does not mean the dream is over. For young footballers watching, her career is proof that progress is rarely linear.

So where did it all begin?

As mentioned, Blakstad comes from a football family, she was almost born with football cleat on her foot. Her father, Even, played professionally, while her aunt, Britt-Torill Blakstad, represented Norway at youth international level. Football was never simply a hobby in the Blakstad household. 

Yet Julie's own path was anything but straightforward. She took her first steps at Ottestad IL, the same club where her father both played and later coached, before moving to FL Fart and eventually Rosenborg. It was there that she emerged as one of Norway's most exciting young prospects. Coaches admired far more than her cultured left foot or her willingness to join the attack. Her greatest asset was her versatility, seamlessly switching between left-back and midfield while consistently offering something different to her team.

Some things worth waiting

When Manchester City came calling in 2022, it felt like the obvious next chapter. One of England's biggest clubs had secured one of Scandinavia's brightest young internationals. Reality, however, proved more complicated. Competition for places was fierce, and Blakstad found opportunities hard to come by. For a player accustomed to playing every week, it became a challenging period defined by patience rather than momentum.

Instead of clinging to a place at one of Europe's elite clubs, she made a decision that many young players find difficult: taking a step back in order to move forward. A loan spell at BK Häcken followed by a permanent move to Hammarby restored both her confidence and regular playing time. In Stockholm, she rediscovered the joy of football and reminded everyone why Manchester City had wanted her in the first place.

Looking back, that decision may have been the defining moment of her career. Rather than allowing an unsuccessful spell in Manchester to shape the narrative around her, Blakstad turned it into just another chapter. At only 24, she has become an important figure for both Tottenham and Norway, proving that the road to the top does not have to be straight to lead somewhere extraordinary.