Rasmus Steensbæk Lauritsen (born 27 February 1996) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Danish Superliga club Brøndby.
Lauritsen has both played for Herning Fremad and Brande IF as a youth player, starting as a four-year-old, before joining Midtjylland in the summer 2011. He made his senior debut for Midtjylland at age 19 on 8 November 2015 in a 5âÂÂ1 Superliga home win over Esbjerg. That appearance proved to be his only first-team outing for Midtjylland, as he sought regular playing time elsewhere.
On 5 January 2016, Lauritsen signed a two-year contract with Danish 1st Division side Skive. He immediately became a starter in Skive's defence and gained his first experience of senior football. On 1 December 2016, he scored his first senior goal, equalising in Skive's 3âÂÂ2 victory over Næstved. Lauritsen totalled 31 league appearances and three goals during his year with Skive, prompting interest from higher-tier clubs.
Lauritsen signed a two-year contract with Danish 1st Division club Vejle Boldklub in June 2017, joining a team aiming for promotion. A few months later the club extended Lauritsen's contract for one more year. He quickly became an integral player at VejleâÂÂin the 2017âÂÂ18 season he scored six goals from centre-back as Vejle clinched the 1st Division championship, earning promotion to the Superliga.
Lauritsen made his top-flight debut for Vejle the following season and netted his first Superliga goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against fellow promoted side Vendsyssel in August 2018. His performances as a prolific scoring defender in Denmark attracted attention from abroad.
On 11 February 2019, Lauritsen moved abroad and signed for Swedish top club Norrköping on a three-year deal. He continued his impressive form in Allsvenskan, tallying 11 goals in 48 league matches over the 2019 and 2020 seasonsâÂÂan unusually high output for a defender. Media noted that Lauritsen had become one of the most goal-threatening centre-backs in the league.
On 2 October 2020, Lauritsen signed for Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb. He debuted two days later against Varaà ¾din and made an error that resulted in a goal. However, his performances soon drastically improved and had an instant impact on Dinamo's defense, causing them not to concede a single goal in all five Europa League group stage games that he played.
During Lauritsen's time with the club, Dinamo won back-to-back Prva HNL titles in 2020âÂÂ21 and 2021âÂÂ22, and also captured the Croatian Cup in 2021.
On 30 January 2023, Lauritsen returned to his native Denmark to join Brøndby on a four-and-a-half-year contract. "I am incredibly happy to join... It is a huge club, and I am ... proud to represent Brøndby IF⦠I have come to Brøndby to play at the top of Danish football and eventually to play in Europe again," Lauritsen said upon signing. He arrived carrying a minor injury and lacking full fitness, which delayed his integration into the squad. Making his debut for the club on 10 April, he entered the match in the 88th minute, substituting for Frederik Winther during a 2âÂÂ1 league loss to Nordsjælland. On 16 April, he earned his first starting position and contributed to the team keeping a clean sheet during a 1âÂÂ0 victory against AGF.
Lauritsen began the 2023âÂÂ24 season vying for a regular place in Brøndby's defence, but another injury in August 2023 derailed his progress. During his absence, newly arrived centre-back Jacob Rasmussen and others cemented their spots, and head coach Jesper Sørensen kept faith with a back line of Rasmussen, Henrik Heggheim, and Frederik Alves, leaving Lauritsen out of the starting eleven. Although he recovered fitness later in the season and went on to make 19 league appearances (scoring his first goal for Brøndby in May 2024 during a league fixture against AGF), he largely had to settle for a reserve role. In October 2023, media in Sweden even reported that his former club IFK Norrköping had him on their wish list due to his situation, as Norrköping's coach Glen Riddersholm publicly expressed interest in a reunion.
In early 2025, Lauritsen experienced a resurgence in form. Brøndby entered the spring of the 2024âÂÂ25 Superliga campaign with captain Jacob Rasmussen and Frederik Alves both sidelined by injuries. New head coach Frederik Birk turned to Lauritsen, handing him a rare start on 7 April 2025 against AGFâÂÂonly Lauritsen's second league start of the season. Despite concerns over his match sharpness (he had played just four minutes since the winter break), Lauritsen completed the full match and delivered a strong performance in a 2âÂÂ1 win. Birk, who normally "preached the collective before the individual," made an exception to praise Lauritsen's impact, saying the veteran centre-back had "stepped up" and earned the team's respect with his attitude and level of play. The following week Lauritsen retained his place for the derby against Copenhagen, where he again impressed as the central figure in a three-man defence, helping Brøndby to a 2âÂÂ1 victory at Parken. Birk highlighted that when the game suits Lauritsen's strengths and "he can stand and head away" opposition attacks, "he is one of the Superliga's best" in that role."
Lauritsen has a twin brother, Frederik, who also plays football.
His favourite player is Andy Carroll and his favourite team is Arsenal.
Midtjylland
Dinamo Zagreb