Jacob Mikael Widell Zetterström is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Derby County and the Sweden national team.
Born on 11 July 1998 in Stockholm, Sweden, he stands 1.97 metres tall.
He has established himself as a reliable first-choice goalkeeper at club level and earned senior international recognition, including appearances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Siblings
Jacob has at least two siblings. His older brother is Gabriel Zetterström, a culture writer and critic.
He also has a younger sister named Jelena.
Their mother is Jelena Zetterström, a journalist and author.
The family has a notable historical connection through Jacob’s maternal grandmother, Jelena Rennerová, who fled Communist-era Czechoslovakia with the assistance of a marriage of convenience to the future Swedish prime minister Olof Palme; Palme later served as godfather to Jacob’s mother.
Career
Widell Zetterström began his youth career at Djurgårdens IF before moving to IFK Lidingö.
He started his senior career with Lidingö in the lower Swedish divisions.
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In 2019 he returned to Djurgårdens IF, initially with dual registration that allowed him to play for Lidingö on loan.
Early setbacks came in the form of two concussions that kept him out of action for a significant period and led him to begin medical studies before ultimately recommitting to football.
He made his Allsvenskan debut for Djurgården in 2021, keeping a clean sheet against IFK Göteborg, and went on to become the club’s established first-choice goalkeeper.
Over his time at Djurgården he accumulated a substantial number of appearances, including participation in UEFA Europa Conference League matches, and contributed to strong domestic and European campaigns.
In August 2024 he transferred to Derby County on a three-year contract.
He quickly established himself as the club’s primary goalkeeper, making his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Watford and featuring regularly in the Championship.
He has also represented Sweden at senior level, making his international debut in a January 2023 friendly against Iceland and later featuring in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he started against Japan and France.
Accolades
With Djurgårdens IF, Widell Zetterström was part of the squad that won the Allsvenskan title in 2019.
He earned multiple nominations for Allsvenskan Goalkeeper of the Year in subsequent seasons.
At Derby County he received the club’s Save of the Season award for a notable stop against Bristol City and was named the club’s PFA Community Champion for the 2024/25 season in recognition of his off-field engagement.
He was also nominated for the EFL Championship Player of the Month award.
On the international stage, his performances at the 2026 World Cup, including a high number of saves against France, drew praise from coaches, teammates, and observers.
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