GAIS had a brilliant season last year, finishing third and one point ahead of city rival IFK Göteborg. Ibrahim Diabaté won the Allsvenskan top scorer title with 18 goals, but he is now on loan to Alavés. In October, GAIS signed striker Samuel Salter from Atlético Ottawa, with the player signing a four-year contract. Samuel Salter led the top scorer league with his 19 goals when he was brought in from Ottawa, and GAIS was the first team to make a formal bid for him.
Samuel Salter scored a goal after four minutes in this year's first training match against Sarpsborg. He reunited with former teammate Matteo de Brienne, and GAIS captain Gustav Lundgren recently praised Salter in an interview with Fotbolltransfers. Teammate Jonas Lindberg pointed out Salter as the Allsvenskan top scorer winner this winter. Samuel Salter thinks the team can do much better despite a good start with several wins. He describes GAIS's training environment as much more demanding than what he was used to in Canada. Samuel Salter is very happy and thinks the city is very nice. He feels it's just fun to see a banner with his face and a goat, and he is impressed with how the team managed to turn a 0-2 deficit into a win. He says it's a high goal but good that his teammates believe in him regarding being pointed out as top scorer winner.
It has been a fantastic journey so far. The first week we had a big snowstorm in Gothenburg and basically the entire preseason there was a lot of snow. I am happy with how I have acclimatized. The teammates and the coaching staff have welcomed me with open arms. I already feel at home.
GAIS has the whole group final in their own hands and wins the group with a draw thanks to the turnaround against Sandviken on Monday. The exact terms of Samuel Salter's contract have not been disclosed, and it is unclear what specific other clubs were interested in signing him. Additionally, the future plans for Ibrahim Diabaté's loan at Alavés remain unknown.
Yes, I am used to it, but I had imagined that Sweden would be less cold. The first open training session was around minus 15, so it was a different and fun experience. It wasn't quite what I expected.
Absolutely. Matteo has helped me a lot, even before I came here. We played together in Ottawa and are quite close. I asked him some questions before - how life here is - and ever since I joined he has also been the one I have extra good contact with. An old teammate and countryman makes things easier.
GAIS was the first team to make a formal bid. There was interest from other clubs, but as soon as GAIS came into the picture I took some time to reflect with my family and agent. We immediately agreed that it was the right step for me.
Allsvenskan is a competitive league. GAIS has performed in recent seasons and taken steady steps up in the league system. That Matteo was here also contributed to the decision. It was a perfect step for me and my family. It didn't take long before I made my decision.
He wants to play high, with energy and aggression, and therefore he expects a lot from both the team and me. I like it. He is very passionate and wants the players to push themselves to the utmost. It aligns with what I want with my football. He is very demanding and the club benefits from having such a - right - culture.
I knew a couple of things from some Canadians who have played in Allsvenskan. I also followed the team last year since Matteo plays here and I wanted to see how he performed. That's about what I know. Apart from football, I don't know much, just IKEA and
It's always nice to score goals directly, so that you contribute to the team. I think we as a team have had a good start to the season with several wins, but I think we can do it much better. We are good defensively and offensively but above all I can contribute much more than I have done so far.
Here the training sessions are much more demanding. It's a higher tempo and a completely different intensity. In addition, the sessions are longer. Today we trained for two hours and that is quite normal here at GAIS.
I am very happy and as I said earlier I think the city is very nice. The teammates and staff have welcomed me very well and so have the supporters.
Haha yes I saw it at the end of the match. It just feels fun.
It's good to get such matches now too. Against Sandviken we really showed that we have strong characters in this team and that we have what it takes to come back and win a tough away match.
I will just push myself every day and make sure the team wins as many matches as possible.
It's a high goal, but it's just good that my teammates believe in me.