Peru and Denmark are not connected in many ways.
Over 10,000 km separate the two countries, making them feel worlds apart.
Denmark is known for its high quality of life, hygge (coziness), and the legendary Michael Laudrup. A relatively flat country, its highest elevation is Møllehø, standing at just 170.86 meters (560.6 ft) above sea level.
Peru, on the other hand, is famous for its diverse landscapes, cuisine, vibrant culture, and Paolo Guerrero. Its highest peak, Huascarán Sur, reaches 6,768 meters (22,205 feet) in the northern Andes.
The two nations have only met once on the football pitch - during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where Denmark narrowly won 1-0.
However, one thing does connect them: a shared love for football. And that’s where Oliver Sonne becomes a unique conduit between the two.
Born in Herfølge, Denmark, Sonne is eligible to play for Peru through his maternal grandmother, Elsa Schmidt-Muller Milosevich, who was born in Lima. Elsa’s father was a Danish merchant sailor, and her mother, Angélica Milosevich Flores, was born in Cerro de Pasco, Peru. His aunt, Helena Christensen, is a former Victoria’s Secret model - a profession Sonne himself has dabbled in.
With his blonde hair standing out among the darker shades common in South America, he has earned the affectionate nicknames “El Vikingo” (The Viking) and “Ken” (as in Barbie’s Ken).
Sonne’s decision to represent Peru stems from a deep bond with his grandmother, to whom he once promised he would play for her homeland.
He has frequently spoken about his love for Peruvian culture, which Elsa shared with the family, from food to language and beyond.
Thus, enters the Viking of the Andes.
Oliver Sonne's rise in the game
Sonne came through the HB Køge youth system, a club formed in 2009 by the merger of Herfølge Boldklub and Køge Boldklub. Despite its relative newness, HB Køge has built a reputation for developing talent, even while competing in Denmark’s second tier.
Sonne quickly caught the eye of FC Copenhagen, who signed him on a free transfer after just seven months with the U19 squad. After excelling in the capital, he returned to HB Køge, signing with their first team just over a year after leaving.
He became the club’s starting left-back, and after two strong seasons, Silkeborg came calling, signing him in 2021 for $200,000. He made his debut on August 29, 2021, against Randers in the Superliga but spent part of the season juggling minutes with the reserve squad as he adjusted to the higher level.
It was during the 2022-23 season that Sonne truly broke out.
He doubled his league minutes (1,606), secured the starting right-back role, scored three goals, and provided two assists. He also made his European cup debut, featuring in the UEFA Europa League qualification round and the UEFA Europa Conference League against Anderlecht, West Ham, and FCSB.
Over the next two seasons, Sonne continued to improve. He earned a spot in the Superliga Team of the Month in September 2023, and the following month, he received his first call-up to the Peruvian national team.
He played a key role in helping Silkeborg qualify for the UEFA Europa League by winning the Danish Cup (Landspokal), where he scored the only goal of the final. Interest from bigger clubs grew, with Burnley showing strong interest in the summer of 2024, though a move ultimately fell through.
Despite Silkeborg’s failure to reach the Europa League group stage in 2024-25, Sonne started the season in stellar form.
In the first half of the campaign, he scored three goals and led all Superliga defenders in assists (4) and goal contributions (7). He also ranked third in chances created (23) and placed within the league’s top 15 for both tackles (23) and interceptions (16).
Negotiations with Burnley reopened, and in the winter transfer window, he made the move to England for $3 million—arguably the best right-back in the Superliga at the time.
Player Profile
Standing tall at over six feet (1.84 meters) at age 24, Sonne is quick, agile, and direct.
Capable of playing on either flank, he primarily operates as a right-back, where his dominant foot gives him an edge.
A modern fullback, he enjoys bombing forward and joining the attack, using his pace to recover defensively when needed. He’s also adept at finding space, often sneaking into open positions near the corner of the opponent’s 18-yard box. He has scored several goals this way, driving low and hard to the far post.
"El Vikingo" is also highly intelligent—not just in his positioning but in his discipline. Across 150+ senior appearances (including for Peru), he has never received a red card (per Transfermarkt), a testament to his clean, smart play.
Sonne has earned ten caps for Peru, including appearances at last summer’s Copa América. While he hasn’t underperformed, he has yet to showcase his full potential on the international stage.
Jorge Fossati, relieved of his duties after the November international window, deployed Sonne as a right central midfielder in a 3-5-2 formation - a role that limited his speed, tactical awareness, and attacking instincts. While Sonne has stated he doesn’t mind playing there and performed well against Uruguay in October, he is far more dangerous in wider spaces.
Burnley manager Scott Parker shares that view:
“I think he can play from more of a deeper position joining, but there's no denying his biggest trait and his biggest attribute is going forward and how he adds speed and intent to his game – so I think he is multifunctional. I think you can play him up higher."
"I know he plays for the national team sometimes in midfield, whereas he played [against Reading] as a traditional right-back, and joining the attack was how I see him as well.”
A heat map from Peru’s November World Cup Qualifier showed that, when playing as a central midfielder, Sonne rarely pushed far forward, mostly staying between the 18-yard boxes to cover for Andy Polo’s attacking runs. While likely instructed to do so, it raises further questions about his ideal role.
Unlocking Sonne’s full potential for La Bicolor will be one of interim manager Óscar Ibáñez’s first challenges. The solution seems clear: if Peru sticks with a 3-5-2, Sonne should be deployed as a right wing-back, a position that complements his skills and attacking instincts.
Alternatively, he could slot into a back four, where he has excelled at club level.
As one of the few young, dynamic players in an aging Peru squad, now may be the time to make the transition.
The Future
For the national team, Sonne represents a bright spot in a squad that has struggled throughout this World Cup qualifying campaign. Peru currently sits at the bottom of the table, with its hopes of reaching 2026 hanging by a thread.
Looking ahead, Sonne is poised to play a key role in the next generation of talent tasked with bringing La Bicolor back to the world’s biggest stage. Entering his prime, he has the potential to become a cornerstone for the national team’s future.
At club level, Burnley presents an exciting new challenge, and the club seems eager to have him. He faces stiff competition for a starting spot against Connor Roberts but performed well in his FA Cup appearance against Southampton (6.9 rating via Flashscore). However, his absence from the last two matchday squads for undisclosed reasons is a bit concerning.
Burnley is in the thick of the promotion race, sitting third in the Championship - just two points behind Sheffield United. If Sonne, true to his El Vikingo moniker, can rise to the challenge with the same resilience and tenacity his nickname suggests, he has all the tools to thrive in England.
While a player’s true ceiling is always uncertain, at this moment, Sonne's feels as high as the Andes.
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