Jon Olav Hjelde (born 30 July 1972, in Verdal) is a Norwegian former footballer who played as a central defender. Hjelde began his career at his local team , which competed in the Norwegian Third Division. He joined Rosenborg in 1994, where he became backup to the team's regular central defenders Erik Hoftun and Bjørn Otto Bragstad. Despite not being a regular in the Rosenborg side, Hjelde was signed by Nottingham Forest in 1997. He soon became a regular in Forest's first-team.