ELF: Leipzig Kings re-sign Swedish defensive lineman Aslan Zetterberg

| American Football | 12/12/2022

The Leipzig Kings have announced that they are extending the contract of standout defensive lineman Aslan Zetterberg.

At 6’0” and 286 pounds, the 25-year-old native of Stockholm, Sweden has plenty of experience in the trenches of a football field.  He started in the youth program of the Tyresö Royal Crowns of Stockholm, where he captained the team from 2013-2017 and was the team MVP from 2014-2017.  He then traveled to the United States, joining the City College of San Francisco Rams, where he was a key contributor for two years.  After spending time with the Lake Erie College Storm in Ohio in the spring of 2021, he returned to Europe in time for the start of the European League of Football.

Zetterberg signed with the Leipzig Kings before the league’s inaugural season of 2021.  Immediately, he became one of Leipzig’s best players, as he recorded 10 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 10 games.  His standout play earned him an invitation to the NFL International Combine in London following the season.  He re-signed with the Kings for the 2022 season, and had another solid year, recording 10.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 12 games.  Zetterberg’s 20.5 sacks across two seasons make him the ELF’s second all time sack leader, just behind Kyle Kitchens.

John Booker, Leipzig’s head coach:

“Aslan is one of the most dominant players in all of Europe.  It was obviously a priority to keep a guy like that on our roster.  Games are won up front and having Aslan up front is a huge piece to the puzzle of winning those battles.”

The Kings have already managed to bring back two star players on the defensive side of the ball, re-signing league-leading tackler AJ Wentland and ballhawk safety Williams James.  The re-signing of Zetterberg accomplishes a huge goal of the Kings’ offseason as they seek to make the playoffs for the first time next season.

A current student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carter played football in high school and has been a lifelong avid football fan.