Player Profile: Ingrid Engen

✍️Mia Nicholls

The summer of 2021 saw FC Barcelona confirm the signing of a promising young midfielder- in the form of Norwegian international, Ingrid Engen.

The then 23 year old swapped Germany’s Frauen Bundesliga for Spain’s Liga F- following the expiration of her contract with VfL Wolfsburg.

At her departure, Barcelona managed to secure the signature of Engen, where the Norwegian was offered a two year deal, seeing her contracted until the conclusion of the 2022/2023 season.

During the winter transfer window of that season, it was announced that an extension had been agreed, thus ensuring the midfielder would remain in Blaugrana for a further two years.

 Engen’s current contract is set to expire in June of 2025, though despite current interest expressed abroad, officials seem positive she will remain with the Spanish side for the foreseeable future.

Ingrid Engen signing for Barcelona in 2021. Photos- FC Barcelona [fcbfemeni]

Engen was listed as a midfielder ahead of her inaugural season, alongside the likes of Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, who provided her with help and guidance as she worked to settle within the tight knit, marked model at Barcelona.

While the Norwegian did not necessarily dominate instantly, following her arrival, a promise of a hard working player with a faultless work ethic came to light during her first two seasons with the club, while she took time to effectively adapt and transition to suit Barcelona's particular pivot role; a role Engen claimed required ‘a lot of work and a lot of thinking’, reiterating she ‘could not imagine how complicated it could be’ before arriving in Barcelona.

Within Engen’s first season representing the 23 shirt, the Norwegian totalled 1953 minutes across four competitions contributing four goals in a season during which, the Spanish side would go on to secure all three domestic trophies through dominance in Liga F, Supercopa and Copa De La Reina, while also reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, a match which would see European defeat for Barcelona, in Turin. 

The following season saw Engen begin to more seamlessly slip into her required pivot position with the team, and by the end of the campaign, she had not only secured a further two domestic trophies, but also saw herself achieve what she referred to as ‘a dream come true’, through a first taste of Champions League success!

Throughout the duration of the season, Engen continued her role as a defensive midfielder, focusing on box to box play and effectively providing reinforcement and stability, in order to ensure conceded goals remained minimal.

Notably, a clash against Atlético de Madrid in the early stages of the season saw, head coach at the time, Jonatan Giráldez trial Engen in a centre back position alongside María León, where it became notable that Engen’s defensive skill set and reliability were something to keep a close eye on.

A season later, these traits would prove to be more than crucial for the success and progression of the team.

UWCL and Liga F Champion 2022/2023. Photos- Ingrid Engen [ingrid_engen] 

December 2023 saw major disruption within Barcelona’s central defence, with Irene Paredes being ruled out as the result of a thigh muscle injury, seeing the centre back out of matchday action until the new year. Prior to this, however, Paredes had been out of training at Barcelona for several weeks due to illness. 

A day after Paredes’ injury confirmation, fellow centre back María León sustained a meniscus tear during a training session with Barcelona, subsequently making her unavailable for an extended period- which would see her miss almost the entirety of the remaining six months of the season.

The injuries to the pair limited the number of available defenders for Barcelona, as well as adding to a lengthy medical list for the squad in general.

With a busy period fast approaching, the team needed a replacement, in order to preserve the solidity of their backline; and that came through Ingrid Engen. 

Centre back duo Mapi León and Irene Paredes

There was an instantaneous need to perform at the highest level, meaning Barcelona were unable to bring in, and develop, an academy player to fulfil the required ball playing centre back role- given the overwhelming schedule within the second half of the season.

However, Engen, despite having only sporadically featured as a centre back before, quickly adapted, and ultimately thrived in this new role- becoming a fundamental piece of Barcelona's formation there.

A notable benefit in converting Engen from her natural position as a defensive midfielder came through the Norwegian’s pre existing defensive style of play.

Rather than requiring a change of position, mindset and play style in order to comfortably take up a central defensive role, the transition saw an almost seamless adaptation, with a sole focus on further developing and utilising Engen’s qualities.

Her usual play is characterised through a possession based defensive operation, in deeper areas of the pitch, with strengths evident through her passing, and ability to find and cover space effectively- all while preventing counter attacks and holding possession.

When shifting to cover the role of centre back, these skills proved to be more than crucial- Engen emphasising how important it was to ensure she placed a focus on ‘adapting [my] own strengths, so not to become someone else, but to get [my] worth across’. 

The 2023/2024 season, was another success for Barcelona, and by May 2024, they officially completed their first continental quadruple in the team's history, following European triumph in Bilbao, defending the previous season's title and winning the Champions League for the third time overall, while continuing what seems to be a never-ending dominance in their domestic league and cups, across the campaign.

The side won 45 out of 48 matches played across all competitions with a 94% win rate and kept 33 clean sheets.

While the season proved incredible for the squad as a whole, it was also a season of immense growth on a personal basis for Ingrid Engen.

In her position as a centre back, Engen totalled 2728 minutes of game time, across 39 matches.

Though the season saw an unwavering dominance on Engen’s front, in all competitions, she was undeniably a standout throughout the entirety of Barcelona’s UWCL campaign- ensuring her presence was constant, and her reliability was never questioned; ultimately contributing to their eventual European victory.

Ingrid Engen - 'Mapi has been a great support'. 23/24 season quadruple winner

When reflecting on her initial seasons alongside the Spanish side, in 2022, Engen expressed the idea that ‘football in Barcelona is so different to playing in other countries’, while reiterating the normality of a gradual transition in order to suit such a prestigious club, and the fact that it is ‘frustrating as you want to fit in’ as soon as squad integration begins.

Now, following a sensational season, in which she was able to display her importance, talent and dedication, it is more than fair to say she has left a lasting mark on a momentous season for the club she represents, and continues to craft a positive narrative surrounding her personal career. 

As of now, and since the start of the current season, Engen has remained in her new found central defensive position, claiming it is one she believes ‘fits her well’, a statement that can easily be backed up solely by looking at her statistics and contribution for the entirety of the previous season, and each performance so far this season.

The defender has accumulated 1168 minutes of game time across 16 appearances and managed to net a goal in Barcelona’s 1-8 win over Madrid CFF in October 2024. 

December 2024 saw Engen receive well overdue recognition, as the recipient of the International Impact Award at Mundo Deportivo’s European Women’s Football Awards.

The award recognises and highlights players who leave a lasting mark on the global football community.

The award was presented to Ingrid Engen, whose talent and dedication have rightfully earned her widespread respect and recognition both on and off the pitch, over the past year.

Engen is an endlessly exciting player to watch, for both club and country, and for as long as she is granted deserved opportunities, the Norwegian will surely perform, thus remaining entirely deserving of any, and all, praise she receives. 

Ingrid represents what it means to have a true global presence in football - Anja Gadža.