Kartum joined Kristiansund Ballklubb before the 2021 season and has played 75 league and cup matches for the club. 

When the transfer window opens on 1 August, he will become a Brann player. Kristiansund and Brann have come to an agreement on a transfer for the midfielder, who had a contract with KBK until this season.

– We congratulate Sander on the transition and thank him for his efforts at KBK. Sportingly, it’s never nice to lose good players, but it’s part of football. We are very satisfied with the agreement with Brann. Sander has done a great job for KBK throughout, and will still have one more match, so we hope he finishes with a fantastic match against Raufoss, says Eirik Hoseth, sporting director at KBK.

Good development in KBK

Kartum was named player of the year in the Obos league in 2020 when he played for Stjørdals-Blink. He was then taken to Kristiansund.

– For those who come to KBK, there are good opportunities to become really good and get ahead. When we sell to bigger clubs, we have to be fantastically good at finding new, good players. Sander is an example of a player who came to KBK reasonably well and developed further in adulthood, says Hoseth.

The player himself also points to the good progression he has had.

– It was a very big step up from Blink to Kristiansund. I have been given time to develop further and have been given a lot of playing time. I have become a better soccer player. When Brann came on the field, it was natural to take another step further, says Sander Erik Kartum.

Thrived from day one

Trønder says that he had good years in the city and the club.

– I felt welcome in Kristiansund from day one. I joined a very good group here at the club, and everyone is going in the same direction. KBK is a very nice club, he says.

Khartoum had the opportunity to negotiate with other clubs from 1 July, as he had six months left on his contract. Brann wanted to bring Khartum already this summer instead of waiting until the New Year, and KBK and Brann have come to an agreement on a transfer fee that will allow him to go to Bergen from August.

– Brann has followed me for a while, and that is positive for me. The club has shown that they really want me and that I fit in there. It is a step up, considering the size of the club. Brann is a top club in Norway, and that really motivates me to fight to win something. They are at the top of the Eliteserien, are still in the NM and will go to Europe this autumn. Fire fights on several fronts, and it’s very funny, says Kartum.

The midfielder’s last match for KBK will be against Raufoss on Saturday 8 July.