– With his attitude and willingness to fight, we have high hopes that Thomas will become an important player for AIK, says the men’s team’s sporting director Thomas Berntsen.
– I am incredibly happy to be back in Stockholm and to represent Sweden’s biggest club. I have been waiting for this day for a long time, am full of adrenaline and ready to give everything to help the club, says Thomas Isherwood.
26-year-old Thomas Isherwood was born on January 28, 1998 and grew up in the Swedish capital, Stockholm. His football education began at an early age in the local association Fruängens IF, which he belonged to until 2009. The following year, Thomas would make the move as a twelve-year-old to Athletic FC (now AFC United) – here he would continue his football education until 2012, when he changed club to IF Brommapojkarna. Thomas continued to play youth football at his new club, but would also make his debut for the A team during the Swedish Cup’s last group stage match in 2015. BP made the trip to Borås to face IF Elfsborg on March 8, 2015, and even though Thomas was not there in the starting eleven, he had to enter the field in the 69th minute of the match in favor of Fredrik Stoor. IF Elfsborg, who had taken the lead through Victor Claesson just before the half-time break, however, the number was too great for BP and Thomas had to see himself defeated in his first match at senior level (0–1).
During the summer of 2015, the then 17-year-old Thomas Isherwood left Sweden and IF Brommapojkarna for the German club Bayern Munich’s academy. The debut for his new club came on 16 September 2015 when the team traveled to Greece to face Olympiacos’ U19 side in the Uefa Youth League. For a long time it looked as if Bayern would travel home to Munich with a draw, but after a penalty goal by Manolis Saliakas in the 82nd minute of the match, Bayern found themselves defeated 1–0. As well as playing in Europe with Bayern Munich’s U19 team, Thomas was often in the starting line-up when it came to league play as he started 15 games in his debut season at the club. This was followed up with 20 starts and two substitutions in the following season. Before the 2017/2018 season, Thomas took the step up to Bayern Munich’s B team, where he was on the field in 18 games.
After just over three years at FC Bayern München, it was time for the next move. This time the move went to England and the classic club Bradford City AFC, who at the time played in League One.
The debut in English football came on 15 September 2018 when he had to jump in with two minutes remaining in the home meeting with Charlton Athletic FC (0–2). Thomas alternated being on the bench and making brief appearances with the A team, playing competitive matches with Bradford City’s Under-21 side. However, he would make his debut in the starting eleven on 27 October 2018 when the team traveled to Gillingham to face Gillingham FC. Bradford City AFC with Thomas in the backline had a tough day at work as they ended up being defeated 4-0. It was a total of five games for Thomas in Bradford City AFC before the next move would take place.
On January 25, 2019, the Jämtland club, Östersunds FK, announced that they had agreed with Thomas Isherwood on a four-year contract. The debut came barely two months later when IK Sirius FK visited Jämtkraft Arena in Östersund to play the last round of the Swedish Cup’s group stage. Thomas was on the field throughout the match, which ÖFK won 3–0. However, the result was not enough for advancement and they had to settle for second place in the group stage. The debut in the Allsvenskan came on March 31, 2019 when Östersunds FK traveled to Stockholm to face AIK in the first round of the series game. Östersunds FK put in a good effort against the reigning champions and managed to keep close behind, and with that earn themselves a point (0–0). The first goal for his new club came only eight days later when Falkenbergs FF came to visit Jämtland. For a long time it looked like it would be another draw for ÖFK, but in the 88th minute of the match Thomas was up front and scored the decisive goal (3–2). There were a total of 18 games and two goals during his debut season in Östersund FK and Allsvenskan.
Thomas continued to be an important piece of the puzzle in Östersund’s team building even in his second season for the club when he was in the starting eleven in 26 out of 30 rounds. There would also be two goals this season, one of which was in the 1–2 loss against AIK at Jämtkraft Arena.
On January 3, 2021, the transfer load went back to Germany when Östersunds FK announced that they agreed with SV Darmstadt 98 on a transfer for Thomas Isherwood. The German club were at the time in the German second division and Thomas made his debut for his new club on 7 May 2021 when he came on in the final minutes of the 2–1 win against Hannover 96. In his second season with the club, Thomas would blossomed into a key player for SV Darmstadt 98 as he played 24 games from the start. In the 2022/2023 season, Thomas was involved and played the club to the fine room again after they placed themselves in second place in the 2. Bundesliga, with the same points as first 1. FC Heidenheim.
The 2023/2024 season saw games in the German first division, the Bundesliga. Thomas Isherwood would also make his debut in the country’s top league on September 2, 2023 when he was in the starting eleven when the team traveled to face Bayer Leverkusen away from home. However, the future German champions were too outnumbered and SV Darmstadt 98 were ultimately defeated (1–5). There were a total of 52 games for Thomas in SV Darmstadt 98 before he left the club in August 2024 to join AIK Football.
Thomas Isherwood also has solid experience within the Swedish youth national teams as he has managed to play 18 matches for the U17 national team, 16 matches for the U19 national team and seven matches for the U21 national team.
