SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed left back Joel Qwiberg to a multi-year contract, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and ITC. Qwiberg joins the Quakes after more than 100 appearances in Sweden and the Netherlands.
“Joel is a technically gifted and hard-working player that allows us to strengthen our defense in more than one formation,” said Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli. “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, 25, comes to San Jose after two seasons with Sweden’s IF Brommapojkarna. He joined the club in January of 2016 while the side was in Division 1, the third tier of Swedish football. In his first season with the club, he scored one goal in 21 league appearances, anchoring the competition’s best defense (0.65 goals per game) and helping them win the championship and earn promotion to the second-tier Superettan with a 19-1-6 record.
In his second season with the club in 2017, Qwiberg appeared in all 30 league appearances for the Superettan’s best defense (0.87 goals per game), tallying four assists and helping the team win its second championship in as many years. Brommapojkarna earned promotion to the country’s top-tier Allsvenskan with a 19-6-5 record.
Qwiberg began his career at FC Gute before moving to Vasalunds IF of the Swedish third-tier in January 2012. He scored two goals in 43 appearances for Vasalunds before being transferred to FC Den Bosch of the Dutch second division in July 2014. Qwiberg returned to Vasalunds in February 2015 and remained with the club until signing with Brommapojkarna in January 2016.
Qwiberg was born in Colombia and also holds a Swedish passport.
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes sign D Joel Qwiberg.
Joel Qwiberg
Position: Defender
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150 lbs.
Born: Oct. 9, 1992
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Last Club: IF Brommapojkarna (Sweden)
College: NA
Roster Designation: International
