irvine, california Orange County SC announced Thursday that the club has signed Norwegian defender Markus Nakkim ahead of the 2023 USL Championship season. This transaction is pending league and federation approval.
Nakkim has made more than 90 appearances in Norwegian football’s top league, Eliteserien, and has made two previous appearances for the Norwegian men’s U-21 national team. The 26-year-old will become his seventh European player to wear black and orange this season. He will do so alongside OCSC captains Daniel Pedersen, Rob Keenan, Kyle Scott, and his fellow newcomers Ryan Dogman, Andrew Fox, Mark McNulty, and Emil Nielsen.
“I am very proud to be a part of Orange County SC,” said Nakkim. “After being presented with a club and a project by the technical team, I felt there was no better place to continue my career. After spending the last eight years in the Elite Serien in Norway, my ambition was to move abroad to continue my professional development and gain international experience. I chose OCSC as a result and am very excited to get to work.”
The Oslo native has 148 appearances in Norway’s top three divisions. In these matches, he scored 11 goals and he provided 4 assists as centre-back.
“Marcus has great experience playing in Norway’s top division,” said OCSC Sporting Director Peter Nugent. “Signing him at the age of 26 shows the progress the league has made in attracting players of his ability at the height of his career. He will enjoy the physical side of things and will be the perfect complement to our current group, and we are looking forward to welcoming him here in Orange County.”
