BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

MADS ANDERSEN

A towering, elegant central defender, Mads Andersen signed for the Reds in the summer of 2019 from Danish Superliga outfit AC Horsens despite interest from fellow Championship clubs.

A youth international at various levels, Andersen developed with Brondby in his homeland. 

It was a year of transition for Mads during the 2019/20 Sky Bet Championship campaign, where his early performances showed promise before his form dropped off a little.

Known for his big smile and infectious personality around Oakwell, Andersen went from strength to strength in the latter part of the season, proving a key performer as Barnsley secured their second tier status on the final day of the season.

He built upon those foundations in his second year with the Reds, topping numerous defensive charts across a 2020/21 campaign in which he played a huge role in guiding Barnsley to a play-off place. 

Stepping up as captain for much of the following season, Andersen remained vital to Barnsley and its fortunes, but ultimately, the Dane could do little to prevent the Reds sliding into the third tier. 

Despite overtures from a number of suitors for Andersen's signature, the Reds rejected bids and triggered a 12-month extension in his contract, keeping him at Oakwell until at least 2024. 

As captain across the 2022/23 season, Mads was outstanding and led the Reds to a fourth-placed finish in Sky Bet League One. Immense performances saw him voted the fans' Player of the Season, as the Reds lost out in the Play-Off Final at Wembley.