How Signe (20) Became Norway’s Rising Star: “I Was a Bit Different”
- Joachim Baardsen
- 30. sep.
- 6 min lesing
As a kid, she didn’t even know women’s football existed. Today, Signe Gaupset inspires thousands of girls.
Text: Baardsen Sport/NISO
At just 10 years old, Gaupset was playing on the boys’ team for SK Rival outside Molde. Her
idols were Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.
She dreamed of playing for the Norwegian men’s national team.
“I didn’t know anything but men’s football. I’ve always said I wanted to become a footballer,
but back then I didn’t really know what that meant,” Gaupset says.
Ten years later, she has won two league titles, a cup title, played Champions League for
Brann, and dominated for Norway during the European Championship. She is still only 20.
Her precise right foot, explosive pace, brilliant technique and goalscoring instinct convinced
Tottenham in the English Women’s Super League to smash the Norwegian transfer record to
bring her from Bergen to London.
Since first grade, Gaupset’s life has revolved around football. When she laced up her boots
and ran around the artificial pitch at Årølia — just by the airport in Molde — she felt a special
kind of love for the game.
That love also made her stand out among girls her age.
“I was a bit different. I was a tomboy. I didn’t wear a lot of pink. I always brought a ball and
football boots to school. Since not many girls played football, I became more part of the
boys’ group,” she says.
“I have many good friends from that time. It was a great childhood. I’ve never doubted that I
would become a footballer. There was never really another option for me.”
Gaupset has already achieved more than most players do in an entire career. At 17, she
became Brann’s cup final hero with two goals. The following season she announced herself
on Europe’s biggest stage with two sensational performances against powerhouse Lyon.
Still, 2025 surpasses everything so far.
This summer she dominated for Norway at the European Championship in Switzerland. At
the same time, she helped Brann win the league and played a key role in a historic victory
over Manchester United at a sold-out Brann Stadium in the Champions League playoffs.
“It’s been incredible. This is a season I’ll carry with me for the rest of my career,” she says.
And Gaupset is only getting started.
“Her potential is enormous. I don’t know when we last saw a talent like this,” says Brann
defender Cecilie Redisch Kvamme.
She had just watched Gaupset receive her NISO Awards trophies from union leader
Kristoffer Vatshaug at Brann Stadium — voted for by fellow players and opponents in the
league.
“It means so much. It’s really cool when it comes from the players and not a jury. It shows
that the people you play against notice you and appreciate the work you do. That’s really
special,” Gaupset says.
The 20-year-old admits she was caught off guard when Vatshaug interrupted the team lunch
to announce the winner.
“You’re just like: ‘What is happening right now?’ I didn’t really know what it was at first, but
then I understood more and more. It was a really nice surprise,” she says with a smile.
Gaupset is already being labelled a superstar. Few would be shocked if she one day wins
the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player.
When she looks back at the choices that shaped her path, one decision stands above the
rest:
At 16, she moved from Molde to Bergen to play for Sandviken. Suddenly she was living
completely alone in Norway’s second-largest city.
“It was tough and scary at first, but I’m so glad I made that choice. I don’t regret it for a
second,” she says.
She remembers feeling overwhelmed by what she calls “a really big city.” Even figuring out
the correct bus to take to training was a challenge.
“There was so much that was new. My parents probably found it tough too, but they believed
I would manage — and so did I.”
Gaupset says the support from her father Ketil, mother Ingunn, older brother Sondre and
younger sister Selma has meant everything.
“It’s been hard being far away from the people I love, but I’ve met many wonderful people in
Bergen. I also got into good routines early, and I had some family here who could look after
me. That made a big difference.”
At 16, she became league champion with Sandviken. In 2023 the club merged with SK
Brann, something she describes as invaluable.
“It has meant everything. It’s been so important for my development, for the team, and I think
also for Brann as a club and for the city. It’s incredibly important for young girls to have a
women’s team they can dream of playing for.”
Gaupset didn’t have that herself. Growing up, she had very few female role models. Her
surroundings were made up of boys’ teams and men’s teams.
“When I was younger, I didn’t know much about women’s football. I thought I was going to
play for the men’s national team — because that’s what I saw on TV.”
“What did you think when you realized you couldn’t play for the men’s national team?”
“It was strange, but I understood it eventually.”
Gaupset smiles.
At 13, she watched Ada Hegerberg win the Ballon d’Or in 2018. That moment had a lasting
impact.
“It showed that anything is possible. That was maybe when a real investment in women’s
football began too. When you see how far we’ve come since then, you understand that
anything is possible. Ada showed that by winning the Ballon d’Or,” says Gaupset, who is
now Hegerberg’s teammate on the national team.
Gaupset herself has become a major role model. In Bergen, she has long been the city’s
biggest star.
After training and matches, young girls would wait to get autographs and photos with her.
“It’s really cool. I want to be a role model for young girls. That they want to be like me is
something I take seriously. I want to stand firmly in that role.”
After signing for Tottenham, she now says goodbye to Bergen. She will always appreciate
her teammates, the club, and the city.
She describes the sense of togetherness as unique.
“Going to training and meeting this group every single day has been the best feeling. We’ve
become a tight group of good friends. It will be really sad to leave them. I’ve grown so fond
of them.”
Gaupset will also be missed, says teammate Selma Panengstuen (22).
“I’ve grown very fond of Signe in such a short time. She’s a fantastic person. She’s an
incredibly good football player, but what I appreciate most is the person she is. We’re really
going to notice that she’s gone — both on and off the pitch. We’re losing a truly great
teammate. At the same time, I’m so happy she’s taking this next step. She’s been performing
at a level far above the Norwegian league,” the Brann goalkeeper says.
Gaupset has no doubts about what she’ll treasure most from her time in Bergen.
“Just Brann. The club. The supporters. The people. They’ve meant so much to me — and
they’ll continue to mean a lot to me going forward.”
“You’re continuing your career abroad now. What are your thoughts about the future?”
“I feel it’s the right time to take a new step and test myself at a higher level in a stronger
league. My goal is to become as good as I possibly can. It’s about continuing to put in the
work.”
“What drives you the most?”
“The fact that I think football is incredibly fun. I love it. And I want to see how good I can
become. I want to play big matches and win the Champions League. That’s the dream.”
“What do you think 10-year-old Signe would say about what you’ve achieved?”
“I think she would be impressed, but I’m not sure she would have believed it was possible.
And I know she would have wanted me to keep working even harder to get even better.”