Boreham Wood forward Abdul Abdulmalik has issued a public plea to join Swedish club Djurgarden, according to a report by talkSPORT on Monday. The 23-year-old's statement comes just a week after his club secured a 3-0 win over Forest Green Rovers in the National League, a match he missed.
Djurgarden recently saw a £1.5 million bid for Abdulmalik rejected by Boreham Wood. Had the offer been accepted, it would have broken the National League's outgoing transfer record, which was set in 2012 when Leicester City paid £1 million for Jamie Vardy. Boreham Wood chairman Danny Hunter has so far resisted the Swedish club's advances, but the player has now made his ambitions clear.
What did Abdul Abdulmalik say?
Abdul Abdulmalik posted a lengthy statement on Instagram explaining his position. "Through sheer hard work and perseverance, the opportunity to progress has come around," he wrote. The forward described the chance as rare for a National League player and said he owed it to himself to fight for it. He expressed gratitude to everyone at Boreham Wood but concluded, "With this said, I'm ready for the next challenge. I'm ready to prove to myself and those around me that I'm capable of reaching the top."
How has Abdulmalik performed this season?
The interest from Djurgarden follows a strong 2025/26 season where Abdulmalik registered 17 goals and ten assists for Boreham Wood. His contributions weren't enough to secure promotion, as the club lost the play-off final to Rochdale on penalties. This season, he has featured in two of Boreham Wood's three league matches, scoring once and providing two assists. He was absent for their third game, the 3-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers last weekend.
That result leaves Forest Green sitting 10th in the National League table with six points from three games. Their recent form reads LWW, having scored five goals but conceded six for a -1 goal difference. They currently trail league leaders Southend by three points. You can follow their progress on our standings page.
What is Boreham Wood's stance?
Following the win over Forest Green, Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard was firm on Abdulmalik's status. He effectively issued a hands-off warning, declaring that the player "is our player." Abdulmalik joined the Hertfordshire club as a free agent in 2024 after being released by Millwall, where he came through the academy. He also has three caps for England's Under-17s.
The situation presents a significant test for Boreham Wood's resolve. Rejecting a record-breaking fee for a player who has publicly stated his desire to leave is a difficult balancing act. For Forest Green, the focus remains on improving their league position after a mixed start. Their next fixtures, which you can view on our fixtures page, will be key to closing the gap at the top of the table.
