Swedish international Johan Elmander joined Norwich City on 21st August 2013 on a season long loan from Turkish side Galatasary.

"I'm very glad the deal has been done and now I'm looking forward to the season ahead," said Elmander. "I know Norwich City have great fans and there's a great atmosphere in the stadium, plus I know a couple of players here already too. I'm very happy. I'm really looking forward to starting training with the lads and to playing some games also. "

Manager Chris Hughton said "I'm really delighted to bring in a player of Johan's experience, not only at club and Premier League level but as a current international. It's great to welcome him to our squad"

Elmander started his career as a striker for Swedish clubs Holmalunds IF and Örgryte but changed to a centre midfielder, before making the move to Dutch club Feyenoord at the age of 18 where he continued to be used as a midfielder. Although never a first team regular, he came on as a substitute in the 2002 UEFA Cup final 3–2 win against German team Borussia Dortmund. Elmander was subsequently put on loan back in Sweden with Djurgården, where he won the Double of both Allsvenskan championship and Swedish Cup title in 2002

In 2003, he was loaned out to Feyenoord's Dutch league rivals NAC Breda.

Before the 2004–05 season, he was bought by Danish Superliga outfit Brøndby. Despite not scoring as many goals for the club as was expected, he was the playmaker and creative spark of the Brøndby team in the 2004–05 Superliga season, playing mainly as the free roaming forward behind the sole striker in Michael Laudrup's 4–3–3 formation. The team won the Double of both the Danish Superliga and the Danish Cup title, and Elmander was voted Brøndby's Player of the Year.

In his two seasons at Brøndby, Elmander scored 22 goals in 58 Danish Superliga games, attracting the attention of several clubs throughout Europe. He was called up to represent Sweden at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he played two games. Elmander signed a four-year contract with French side Toulouse for an undisclosed fee of around €4,500,000 on 7th July 2006. Elmander scored 11 goals in his first season with Toulouse and was nominated as player of the year by his fellow players

On 27th June 2008, Elmander completed a move to Premier League club Bolton Wanderers, for an £8.2 million fee, the club's record signing, with the deal including Daniel Braaten going to Toulouse. He signed a three-year deal, before being given the number nine shirt by manager Gary Megson.

His first Premier League goal, a header, came on his competitive debut, against Stoke City on 16 August 2008 in a 3–1 win. He scored 22 goals in 108 appearances for Bolton before joining Galatasary on 30th May 2011. He scored 17 goals in 59 games before joining Norwich

At the time of his loan to Norwich, Elmander had scored 18 goals in 68 games for the Swedish national team, and was chosen to represent his country at the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012

Elmander made his Norwich debut as a 65th minute substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Hull on 24th August 2013. He scored his first Norwich goals in the 6-3 Capital One Cup second round victory over Bury on 27th August 2013 which was his first start for the Canaries.

Elmander made 34 appearances for Norwich, scoring three goals, in the 2013/14 season in which Norwich were relegated from the Premier League. On his return to Turkey, his contact was not renewed.

After being linked with French side Bastia, Elmander signed for Danish side Brondby on 25th June 2014.

Released by Brondby in the summer of 2016, he signed for Swedish side Örgryte IS. in September 2016. He retired from international football having played 85 games and scoring 20 goals.