Dennis Gjengaar Bio
Dennis Gjengaar (born 24 February 2004) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls. Standing 177 cm tall, he began his senior career in the lower tiers of Norwegian football as a teenager before working his way up to the top flight with Odds BK. In February 2024, Gjengaar completed a move to Major League Soccer, where he has continued to develop as an attacking wide player.
Born in Horten, Norway, Gjengaar came through the youth setup at his local club, Ørn Horten, before moving to the Odds BK organization. He made his professional debut with Odds BK’s first team in 2022 and quickly became a regular starter in the Eliteserien. His performances in Norway earned him a transfer to the New York Red Bulls, where he signed a four-year contract that runs through 2028.
Early Life and Background
Dennis Gjengaar was born on 24 February 2004 in Horten, a coastal town in Vestfold, Norway. Growing up in Horten, he was introduced to organized football at a young age through the local club scene, which is typical for Norwegian prospects who often begin training with neighborhood sides before moving into more structured academy environments.
He joined the youth setup of his hometown club, Ørn Horten, where his pace and willingness to take on defenders quickly set him apart. Coaches at Ørn Horten gave him opportunities with the senior side while he was still a teenager, and on 7 May 2019, at 15 years and 68 days old, Gjengaar became the youngest player ever to debut for the Ørn Horten first team in a match against Vålerenga 2. That early exposure to senior football helped shape his understanding of the physical and tactical demands of the adult game.
During his time with Ørn Horten in the Norwegian Third Division, Gjengaar made 15 senior appearances and scored one goal. Although the club competed at a modest level, the experience allowed him to refine the wide-attacking instincts that would later define his career.
Path to Professional Soccer
Gjengaar’s trajectory toward professional football accelerated in July 2020, when he left Ørn Horten and joined the Odds BK organization based in Skien. He was initially assigned to Odd 2, the club’s reserve side that competed in the Norwegian Second Division. Over two seasons with Odd 2, Gjengaar featured in 51 matches and scored three goals, building the consistency and endurance required for a step up to top-tier football.
On 25 February 2022, after impressing with the reserves, Gjengaar signed his first professional contract with Odds BK. He was soon integrated into the first team, making his senior debut for the club on 19 May 2022 in a Norwegian Cup match against Hei IL, where he came on as a substitute in a 6–1 victory. Later that season, he broke into the Eliteserien and posted a string of goals that quickly drew attention from clubs abroad.
Dennis Gjengaar Career
Early Career at Ørn Horten (2019–2020)
Dennis Gjengaar began his senior career with Ørn Horten in the Norwegian Third Division during the 2019 season. His debut against Vålerenga 2 on 7 May 2019, at 15 years and 68 days, made him the youngest player ever to feature for the Ørn Horten first team and immediately marked him as one of the most promising teenage talents in the region.
Across his time at Ørn Horten, Gjengaar recorded 15 appearances and one goal, balancing senior football with his ongoing development as a youth player. The spell gave him a grounded introduction to the demands of weekly competition, and his form was sufficient to attract the attention of larger clubs in the Norwegian pyramid.
Odds BK Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Gjengaar’s move to Odds BK in 2020 placed him in a more competitive environment, first with Odd 2 in the Norwegian Second Division and then with the senior squad in the Eliteserien. After signing his first professional contract in February 2022, he made his top-flight debut on 10 September 2022 against Sandefjord Fotball, scoring twice in a 3–1 victory. The performance drew praise from head coach Pål Arne Johansen, who highlighted Gjengaar’s potential.
He continued to find the net in the closing weeks of the 2022 season, opening the scoring in a 2–2 draw with Haugesund on 2 October, in a 2–1 win over Vålerenga on 22 October, and again in a 2–0 victory against Lillestrøm on 30 October, finishing the campaign with five league goals. In 2023, Gjengaar became a regular in the starting eleven, opening his account on 6 August 2023 in a 4–0 win over Stabæk before scoring in a 2–2 draw with Vålerenga later that month. Across his time in the Eliteserien with Odd, he established himself as a reliable attacking outlet on the right flank.
New York Red Bulls Era (2024–Present)
On 16 February 2024, Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls announced the signing of Dennis Gjengaar on a four-year contract running through 2028. The transfer marked his first move outside Norwegian football and represented a significant step up in competition, with the Red Bulls competing annually for playoff places in the Eastern Conference.
Gjengaar scored his first goal for New York on 22 June 2024, opening his account in a 3–0 victory over Toronto FC. He continued to feature through the 2024 campaign and into 2025, scoring the equalizer in a 2–2 draw with Orlando City SC on 15 March 2025. On 7 May 2025, he found the net again in a 4–1 U.S. Open Cup win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, helping New York advance in the competition.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gjengaar is an attack-minded right winger who combines direct dribbling with an eye for goal. He is comfortable running at defenders down the flank, cutting inside onto his stronger foot, and arriving in the penalty area to finish scoring chances. His pace, low center of gravity, and willingness to take on opponents in one-on-one situations make him a constant outlet for his team’s wide build-up play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Gjengaar’s standout career moments are becoming the youngest player to debut for Ørn Horten’s first team in 2019, scoring twice on his Eliteserien debut for Odd in 2022, and netting his first New York Red Bulls goal in 2024. His early contributions to the Red Bulls’ 2025 U.S. Open Cup run have also marked him as a player capable of influencing cup competitions at the professional level.
Dennis Gjengaar Career Wins
Throughout his career, Dennis Gjengaar has accumulated goals and key contributions at every level he has represented, from the Norwegian Third Division with Ørn Horten to Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls. His scoring record in cup and league competition has been a defining feature of his development as a wide attacker.
Eliteserien Highlights
Gjengaar’s top-flight breakthrough came during the 2022 Eliteserien season with Odds BK, where he scored five league goals, including braces on his debut against Sandefjord Fotball. He added further goals in 2023, including strikes against Stabæk and Vålerenga, establishing himself as a regular starter and a consistent attacking threat on the right side of the pitch.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his league output, Gjengaar has made meaningful contributions in cup competitions, including his first professional appearance in the Norwegian Cup with Odd in May 2022 and a goal in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for New York Red Bulls. He has also represented Norway at various junior levels, including the Under-19 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.
Dennis Gjengaar Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Public information about Dennis Gjengaar’s family background is limited, and he is not widely documented as part of a multi-generational footballing family. He grew up in Horten, Norway, and developed through the local football community at Ørn Horten before progressing to Odds BK and eventually the New York Red Bulls.
Personal Life
As of the most recent available records, Dennis Gjengaar remains focused on his professional career with the New York Red Bulls, where he is signed through 2028. There is no publicly confirmed information regarding a spouse or children, and he continues to be based with his club in the United States while maintaining ties to his hometown of Horten, Norway.
2025 Season Performance
Dennis Gjengaar entered the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign looking to build on a debut season with the New York Red Bulls in which he scored his first goal for the club. He opened his 2025 league account on 15 March 2025, netting the equalizing goal in a 2–2 draw with Orlando City SC, an early sign that he remained a regular contributor on the right side of the New York attack.
In cup competition, Gjengaar scored in a 4–1 victory over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on 7 May 2025, helping the Red Bulls advance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. These contributions underline his growing role within the squad and his ability to influence matches across multiple competitions.
Looking ahead through the remainder of 2025, Gjengaar is expected to remain part of the New York Red Bulls’ first-team plans as the club competes in the MLS regular season, the MLS Cup playoffs, and additional cup fixtures. With his contract running through 2028, the 2025 season represents an important opportunity to cement his place in the team’s long-term project.