Jens Cajuste Explained

Jens Cajuste
Fullname:Jens-Lys Michel Cajuste
Birth Date:10 August 1999
Birth Place:Gothenburg, Sweden
Height:1.88 m
Position:Central midfielder
Currentclub:Ipswich Town (on loan from Napoli)
Youthyears1:2006–2008
Youthclubs1:Sports Beijing[1]
Youthyears2:2008–2009
Youthclubs2:Yu Ye Beijing
Youthyears3:2009–2010
Youthclubs3:Guldhedens IK
Youthyears4:2010–2016
Youthclubs4:Örgryte IS
Years1:2016–2018
Clubs1:Örgryte IS
Caps1:14
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2022
Clubs2:Midtjylland
Caps2:58
Goals2:2
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Reims
Caps3:39
Goals3:5
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Napoli
Caps4:26
Goals4:0
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Ipswich Town (loan)
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:Sweden U21
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2020–
Nationalteam2:Sweden
Nationalcaps2:23
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:23:35, 26 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:13, 8 June 2024 (UTC)

Jens-Lys Michel Cajuste (born 10 August 1999) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for club Ipswich Town, on loan from Serie A club Napoli, and the Sweden national team.[2]

Club career

Early career

Cajuste was born in Sweden to a Haitian-American father and a Swedish mother. He moved to China with his family at age five, living one year in Luoyang before moving to Beijing.[3] There, he began his football career with Chinese Sports Beijing. A few years later, the family returned to Sweden. As a ten-year-old, Cajuste started playing for Örgryte IS.[4] After impressing in the club's youth teams, he was rewarded with a senior contract in 2016.[5] On 17 October 2016, Cajuste made his senior debut for Örgryte in the Superettan in a 4–1 loss to IK Sirius.[6]

Midtjylland

In June 2018, Cajuste moved to Denmark’s Midtjylland, where he signed a five-year contract.[7] He made his debut for the club on 26 August 2018 in a match against Randers.[8] His first goal also came against Randers, which also proved to be the winner, in a 2–1 league victory on 21 October 2019.[9]

On 21 October 2020, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a group stage home game against Atalanta, which Midtjylland lost 4–0.[10]

Reims

On 10 January 2022, Cajuste signed for French club Reims in a transfer deal worth a reported €10 million.[11] He became the club's record signing.[12] A few days later, Reims director-general Mathieu Lacour disputed the reported fee, stating that the price was around half of what Midtjylland had announced.[13] [14]

Cajuste made his debut for Reims in a Ligue 1 match against Metz on 16 January 2022, starting in central midfield before being substituted off for Alexis Flips at half-time, as Reims lost 1–0.[15]

Napoli

On 10 August 2023, Cajuste joined Serie A club Napoli,[16] by signing a five-year contract for a reported fee of €12 million.[17]

Loan to Ipswich Town

On 19 August 2024, Cajuste joined newly-promoted Premier League club Ipswich Town on loan for the 2024–25 season.[18]

International career

On 4 November 2020, Cajuste was called up to the Sweden national team for their friendly game against Denmark and UEFA Nations League games against Croatia and France.[19] He made his international debut in a 2–0 loss against Denmark on 12 November 2020.[20]

Cajuste was called up for a major tournament for the first time when he was included in Sweden's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[21]

Career statistics

Club

[22]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Örgryte IS2016Superettan3030
2017Superettan30202070
2018Superettan8080
Total1402020180
Midtjylland2018–19Danish Superliga2010000030
2019–20Danish Superliga241102000271
2020–21Danish Superliga271408000391
2021–22Danish Superliga50104000100
Total5827014000792
Reims2021–22Ligue 1821092
2022–23Ligue 131321334
Total39531426
Napoli2023–24Serie A260106020350
Ipswich Town (loan)2024–25Premier League00000000
Career total137713100200401748

International

[23]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Sweden202020
202170
202250
202360
202430
Total230

Honours

Midtjylland

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Forsberg . Aron . Fostrad i Kina – nu rycker USA:s landslag i svenske talangen: "Hade varit en stor ära" . fotbollskanalen.se . Fotbollskanalen . 12 July 2020 . 29 September 2018.
  2. Web site: J. Cajuste. Soccerway.
  3. Web site: Just Kristensen . Jørn . Svensk-amerikansk FCM-talent fik kinesisk karrierestart . herningfolkeblad.dk . Herning Folkeblad . 12 July 2020 . 28 September 2018.
  4. Web site: Jens Cajuste klar för FC Midtjylland. Örgryte IS.
  5. Web site: SvenskaFans. 9 July 2021. www.svenskafans.com. sv.
  6. Web site: Sweden – R. Andernil-Bozic – Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway . int.soccerway.com . 22 January 2022.
  7. Web site: Fotbolltransfers.com - Officiellt: Jens Cajuste klar för FC Midtjylland. fotbolltransfers.com.
  8. Web site: Midtjylland vs. Randers – 26 August 2018 – Soccerway. us.soccerway.com.
  9. Web site: Midtjylland vs. Randers – 21 October 2019 – Soccerway . int.soccerway.com . 22 January 2022.
  10. News: TT. 2 November 2020. Cajuste om succén: Alltid trott på mig själv. sv. Svenska Dagbladet. 4 November 2020. 1101-2412.
  11. Web site: Risom. Jens. 10 January 2022. Jens-Lys Cajuste solgt til Stade de Reims. Jean-Lys Cajuste sold to Stade de Reims. 10 January 2022. FC Midtjylland. da-DK.
  12. Web site: 10 January 2022. Official Reims conclude record the signing of Jens Cajuste. 10 January 2022. Get French Football News.
  13. News: Hémard . Adrien . Le directeur général de Reims condamné dans l'affaire Ngamukol . SOFOOT.com . 14 January 2022 . fr . "They are very surprised, as we too were to discover this sum in the newspapers, which is absolutely false." ... "We are on the levels of Rajković (5 million euros in 2019). We are not intended to make these types of double-digit transfers, even if there are some bonuses and a capital gain on resale.".
  14. News: Porse . Kristian . Reims-chef: Rygter om Cajuste-pris er falske . bold.dk . 17 January 2022 . da.
  15. Web site: Reims vs. Metz – 16 January 2022 – Soccerway . int.soccerway.com . 22 January 2022.
  16. Web site: Napoli complete permanent signing of Jens Cajuste . S.S.C. Napoli . 10 August 2023 .
  17. Web site: Official: Napoli sign Cajuste from Stade de Reims . Football Italia . 10 August 2023 .
  18. Web site: Jens Cajuste joins on loan . . 19 August 2024 . 19 August 2024 . live.
  19. Web site: 4 November 2020. Jens Cajuste överraskningen i Janne Anderssons trupp. 4 November 2020. SVT Sport. sv.
  20. Web site: Cajuste efter debuten: "Har mycket mer att erbjuda". 12 November 2020. fotbollskanalen. sv.
  21. Web site: Sweden Euro 2020 squad: Full team profile . . 14 June 2021 . 14 June 2021 . euro2020squad.
  22. Web site: Jens Cajuste. Soccerway. 9 January 2023.
  23. Web site: Jens-Lys Michel Cajute. Svensk Fotboll. 11 November 2020 .
  24. Web site: Summary - Superliga - Denmark - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway . 2024-02-20 . nr.soccerway.com.