# Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson
**Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson** (born 1995 in [Reykjavík](https://www.edgepedia.org/reykjavik), Iceland) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for [Danish Superliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/danish-superliga) club FC Copenhagen and the Iceland national team.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/runar-alex-runarsson/profil/spieler/205657) • [2](https://theanalyst.com/players/9207/runar-runarsson) He is the son of Rúnar Kristinsson, a midfielder who made a record 104 appearances for Iceland.[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html) He is best known for his four years at Arsenal between 2020 and 2024, spent largely on loan.[4](https://www.11v11.com/players/r%C3%BAnar-alex-r%C3%BAnarsson-251010/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, Reykjavík, Iceland; 186 cm, right-footed[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/runar-alex-runarsson/profil/spieler/205657) |
| Position | Goalkeeper[2](https://theanalyst.com/players/9207/runar-runarsson) |
| Current club | FC Copenhagen, joined 1 February 2024, contract to 30 June 2027[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/runar-alex-runarsson/profil/spieler/205657) |
| Arsenal spell | Signed from Dijon in September 2020 on a four-year contract, fee around £1.5 million; canceled by mutual consent in February 2024[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html) • [4](https://www.11v11.com/players/r%C3%BAnar-alex-r%C3%BAnarsson-251010/) |
| International | Iceland debut in November 2017; 24 caps by August 2023; 2018 World Cup squad member as an unused substitute[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html) • [5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/loan-runar-alex-runarsson-joins-arsenal) |
| Family | Son of Rúnar Kristinsson, Iceland's most-capped player with 104 appearances[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html) |
## Early career
Rúnarsson began with his hometown club KR Reykjavik, making three senior appearances in 2012/13, before moving to Danish club FC Nordsjaelland in 2014.[6](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-runar-alex-runarsson-target-dijon-goalkeeper-latest-martinez-a4548516.html) He made 60 first-team appearances for Nordsjaelland and earned his first senior Iceland cap in 2017.[6](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-runar-alex-runarsson-target-dijon-goalkeeper-latest-martinez-a4548516.html) He was named the club's player of the year for the 2017-18 campaign.[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html)
In 2018 he signed a four-year contract with French Ligue 1 side Dijon.[6](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-runar-alex-runarsson-target-dijon-goalkeeper-latest-martinez-a4548516.html) His time there was difficult: after his first season he played second fiddle to Alfred Gomis, and across his Dijon spell he conceded 59 goals in 34 [Ligue 1](https://www.edgepedia.org/ligue-1) starts while keeping five clean sheets.[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html) Dijon's chief scout Sébastien Larcier had nonetheless praised his footwork and willingness to play high up the pitch when the club signed him.[6](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-runar-alex-runarsson-target-dijon-goalkeeper-latest-martinez-a4548516.html)
## Arsenal
Arsenal signed Rúnarsson from Dijon in September 2020 on a four-year contract, for a reported fee of around £1.5 million.[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html) • [6](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-runar-alex-runarsson-target-dijon-goalkeeper-latest-martinez-a4548516.html) The club's goalkeeping coach Iñaki Caña had previously worked with him and approved the move.[6](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-runar-alex-runarsson-target-dijon-goalkeeper-latest-martinez-a4548516.html) He was signed as a third-choice goalkeeper but became back-up to [Bernd Leno](https://www.edgepedia.org/bernd-leno) after Emiliano Martinez was sold to Aston Villa.[7](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal/alex-runarsson-mikel-arteta-aston-villa-b1797538.html)
His most scrutinized performance came in the Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester City in December 2020, in which he made two errors and was widely questioned on social media.[7](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal/alex-runarsson-mikel-arteta-aston-villa-b1797538.html) Manager Mikel Arteta publicly defended him, saying he worked hard and fit in well around the dressing room, and pointed out that Rúnarsson knew his role when he signed.[7](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal/alex-runarsson-mikel-arteta-aston-villa-b1797538.html)
He made one Premier League appearance in total for Arsenal.[2](https://theanalyst.com/players/9207/runar-runarsson) His playing time came on loan: OH Leuven in Belgium in 2021-22, then [Alanyaspor](https://www.edgepedia.org/alanyaspor) in Turkey, where he made 30 [Süper Lig](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-lig) appearances and kept six clean sheets in the 2022-23 season.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/loan-runar-alex-runarsson-joins-arsenal) In August 2023 he joined Cardiff City on a season-long loan, making six Championship appearances.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/loan-runar-alex-runarsson-joins-arsenal) • [2](https://theanalyst.com/players/9207/runar-runarsson) His Arsenal contract was canceled by mutual consent in February 2024.[4](https://www.11v11.com/players/r%C3%BAnar-alex-r%C3%BAnarsson-251010/)
## FC Copenhagen
Rúnarsson joined FC Copenhagen on 1 February 2024, signing a contract running to 30 June 2027.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/runar-alex-runarsson/profil/spieler/205657) He made his debut for the club on 1 August 2024 against FCB Magpies in the UEFA Conference League.[8](https://www.fck.dk/spiller/runar-alex-runarsson) He has served as back-up to Dominik Kotarski, and by early 2026 had made nine appearances for the club across the Superliga, the Danish Cup, and the Conference League.[8](https://www.fck.dk/spiller/runar-alex-runarsson) • [9](https://www.fck.dk/en/news/runarsson-good-be-back-goal) After standing in for Kotarski in a Danish Cup win at Viborg in March 2026, he said he had trained daily with the squad for over two years and felt he had improved in that period.[9](https://www.fck.dk/en/news/runarsson-good-be-back-goal)
## International career
Rúnarsson made his Iceland debut in November 2017 in a 2-1 friendly loss at home to the Czech Republic.[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html) Iceland included him in their 2018 World Cup squad, yet he never left the bench for any of the three Group D matches because the more experienced Hannes Thor Halldorsson was chosen ahead of him.[3](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html) By the time of his Cardiff move in August 2023 he had 24 caps for Iceland.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/loan-runar-alex-runarsson-joins-arsenal)
## Playing style
Scouting descriptions of Rúnarsson emphasize distribution and athleticism rather than stature. At 186 cm he is not tall for a goalkeeper, but he has been described as strong in point-blank saves, good with his feet, and quick with good reactions under crosses.[6](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-runar-alex-runarsson-target-dijon-goalkeeper-latest-martinez-a4548516.html) • [5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/loan-runar-alex-runarsson-joins-arsenal) Cardiff manager Erol Bulut, who knew him from Alanyaspor, highlighted his ability to play out with the ball as the quality he wanted from a goalkeeper.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/loan-runar-alex-runarsson-joins-arsenal)
## References
1. [Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/runar-alex-runarsson/profil/spieler/205657)
2. [Rúnar Rúnarsson, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/9207/runar-runarsson)
3. [Five things you might not know about new Arsenal goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson, Sports Mole (PA)](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/five-things-you-might-not-know-about-new-arsenal-goalkeeper-runar-alex-runarsson_415313.html)
4. [Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson Football Player Statistics, 11v11.com](https://www.11v11.com/players/r%C3%BAnar-alex-r%C3%BAnarsson-251010/)
5. [Loan: Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson joins from Arsenal, Cardiff City FC](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/loan-runar-alex-runarsson-joins-arsenal)
6. [Runar Alex Runarsson to Arsenal: What we know so far, London Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-runar-alex-runarsson-target-dijon-goalkeeper-latest-martinez-a4548516.html)
7. [Mikel Arteta urges Alex Runarsson to ignore criticism of his Arsenal performances, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal/alex-runarsson-mikel-arteta-aston-villa-b1797538.html)
8. [Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson, F.C. København player page](https://www.fck.dk/spiller/runar-alex-runarsson)
9. [Rúnarsson: Good to be back in goal, F.C. København](https://www.fck.dk/en/news/runarsson-good-be-back-goal)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › Nordic footballers › Norwegian, Finnish, and Icelandic footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license