Amahl Pellegrino Bio
Amahl William D’vaz Pellegrino (born 18 June 1990) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a left winger or forward for Major League Soccer club San Diego FC. Standing 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) tall and wearing squad number 90, he is recognized as one of the most productive Norwegian attackers of his generation. Pellegrino rose to prominence as a back-to-back top scorer of the Eliteserien during his time with Bodø/Glimt. His career has taken him from lower Norwegian divisions to a brief spell in the Saudi Pro League and, most recently, to Major League Soccer in the United States.
Amahl Pellegrino Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Amahl William D’vaz Pellegrino was born on 18 June 1990 in Drammen, Norway. He grew up in the same city that would later host the club where he began his senior career, giving him a deep local connection to the game from an early age. Pellegrino was born in Norway to Tanzanian parents, a heritage that would later draw international attention when he was approached by the Tanzania national football team.
Like many Norwegian children, Pellegrino developed his football in grassroots and youth setups around Drammen. He came through the youth system at Drammen FK, the club that gave him his first taste of organized senior football. Reaching the professional ranks from a small-town background shaped his reputation as a late developer who improved steadily through hard work and consistent goal-scoring form.
Amahl Pellegrino Path to Soccer
Path to Soccer
Pellegrino started his senior career in the lower tiers of Norwegian football with Drammen FK, where he played from 2009 to 2011. After that initial spell, he moved to Bærum SK at the age of 22. Bærum played in the 2012 Norwegian First Division, was relegated that year, but won promotion again in 2013, giving Pellegrino his first experience of promotion battles at a competitive level.
In the summer of 2014, Pellegrino signed for top-tier club Lillestrøm SK, marking his first move to the Eliteserien. He made his league debut for the club in August 2014 against FK Haugesund. Although he did not score in the top flight during that spell, the move introduced him to the demands of elite-level Norwegian football. After his time at Lillestrøm, he went on to Mjøndalen IF in the summer of 2015, where he continued to develop before eventually realizing his childhood dream by signing for his hometown Eliteserien club Strømsgodset on 20 November 2017.
Amahl Pellegrino Career
Early Career (2009–2017)
Pellegrino’s formative years as a professional were spent moving between Norwegian clubs, gradually building experience and match sharpness. At Drammen FK and Bærum SK, he learned the demands of consistent senior football, while his move to Lillestrøm SK introduced him to the top division. Following a tenure completely without league goals at Lillestrøm, he joined Mjøndalen IF in the summer of 2015, but the club was relegated the same year.
After failing to win promotion with Mjøndalen in 2016 and 2017, Pellegrino’s persistence paid off with a two-year contract at hometown Eliteserien side Strømsgodset in late 2017. Although he was played mostly on the wing and did not fully establish himself at Strømsgodset, the move confirmed his status as an established Eliteserien-level attacker heading into his late twenties.
Kristiansund Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Pellegrino’s career transformed at Kristiansund BK, where he moved in 2019 after being sold by Strømsgodset. Used more centrally and with greater responsibility, he prospered with the team and scored 33 goals in 39 league matches, an outstanding scoring rate that made him one of the most talked-about forwards in the country.
His prolific form at Kristiansund was enough to attract international interest. On 25 January 2021, he moved from Kristiansund to Damac in the Saudi Pro League for an undisclosed fee. He scored his only goals for the Saudi club in a 3–2 win over Al-Nassr in the Pro League on 9 April 2021, a memorable result against one of the league’s biggest sides.
Bodø/Glimt Era (2021–2024)
He returned home to Norway on 17 August 2021 to join Bodø/Glimt on a free transfer, a move that would define his career. He found his place in the team, scoring 35 goals in his first 58 matches in all tournaments, including 9 in 21 matches in European competition. In his first full season at the club, he helped Bodø/Glimt retain their Eliteserien title with a 3–0 win over Mjøndalen in the final match of the league season.
Pellegrino netted 25 times during the 2022 Eliteserien season to finish as the league’s top scorer, nine more goals than the league’s second top scorer, teammate Hugo Vetlesen. The following year, he finished the 2023 Eliteserien season as the league’s top scorer again with 24 goals. He was also named the league’s player of the year as the club won their third league title in just four years, cementing his reputation as the dominant Norwegian attacker of that period.
San Jose Earthquakes Era (2024–2025)
On 9 February 2024, Pellegrino joined MLS side San Jose Earthquakes on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee, marking his first move outside Norwegian and Saudi football on a permanent basis. The transfer reflected his status as one of the most in-demand Scandinavian forwards following his two Eliteserien golden boots and his player-of-the-year award.
His time in California gave Pellegrino his first sustained experience of Major League Soccer. Although his scoring numbers were more modest than his Bodø/Glimt peak, his physical presence and ability to operate across the front line provided the Earthquakes with a proven European goalscorer.
San Diego FC Era (2025–Present)
On 22 August 2025, Pellegrino was acquired by fellow MLS club San Diego FC, beginning a new chapter in his career. The move reunited him with a growing MLS project while keeping him in the same league where he had already adjusted to North American football with San Jose.
Wearing the number 90 shirt, he joined San Diego FC as an experienced left winger and forward whose previous scoring record at top European level made him a marquee signing for the club. His role is expected to combine leadership on and off the pitch with regular goal contributions in the attack.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pellegrino is a tall, physical attacker who combines strong aerial ability with a sharp eye for goal inside the penalty area. His most effective performances have come when he is used centrally rather than wide, allowing him to time his runs and finish with either foot. He has shown composure in big matches, including his goals against Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and his prolific European scoring record at Bodø/Glimt.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pellegrino’s career-defining moments include back-to-back Eliteserien golden boots in 2022 and 2023, the 2023 Eliteserien player-of-the-year award, and a third Norwegian league title with Bodø/Glimt in four years. He also registered a memorable brace in a 3–2 win over Al-Nassr during his brief Saudi spell, a result that highlighted his quality on a foreign stage.
Amahl Pellegrino Career Wins
Across his time in Norwegian football, Pellegrino built a strong record of team and individual successes, particularly during his three seasons at Bodø/Glimt, where he helped the club win multiple Eliteserien titles and earned two consecutive league top-scorer awards.
Eliteserien Highlights
Pellegrino finished as the Eliteserien top scorer in both 2022, with 25 goals, and 2023, with 24 goals, the latter campaign also bringing him the league’s player-of-the-year award. He contributed directly to Bodø/Glimt’s 2021 title run-in with a 3–0 win over Mjøndalen in the final match of the season and was part of the squad that lifted a third league crown in four years in 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
Before his Eliteserien breakthrough, Pellegrino played a role in Bærum SK’s promotion back to the Norwegian First Division in 2013. He also enjoyed his most prolific individual stretch at Kristiansund BK, where he scored 33 goals in 39 league matches across the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the form that earned him a move to the Saudi Pro League with Damac in January 2021.
Amahl Pellegrino Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pellegrino was born in Norway to Tanzanian parents, giving him a mixed Norwegian-Tanzanian heritage. His upbringing in Drammen and the family’s connection to East Africa shaped a personal story that later attracted attention from the Tanzania national football team.
Personal Life
Beyond his club career, Pellegrino keeps his personal life largely private. His public profile centers on his professional trajectory in football, his hometown roots in Drammen, and his standing as one of the leading Norwegian forwards of his generation.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began for Pellegrino as a San Jose Earthquakes player, following his February 2024 move to MLS on a two-year deal. His stint in California provided him with a full year of adaptation to Major League Soccer, including travel demands, summer heat, and the league’s unique roster rules.
On 22 August 2025, the campaign took a new turn when he was acquired by fellow MLS club San Diego FC, a developing franchise building its first competitive squad. The mid-season transfer offered him a fresh opportunity to play a central role for a club writing its own history.
Heading into the closing stretch of 2025, Pellegrino is expected to combine his experience from back-to-back Eliteserien golden boots and the 2023 Eliteserien player-of-the-year award with a young San Diego FC side. His combination of physical presence, finishing quality, and big-match composure gives the club a reliable attacking reference point as it establishes itself in MLS.
