Abdulmalik Ready for Next Challenge After Boreham Wood Rejects Djurgarden Bid
Abdul Abdulmalik says he is “ready for the next challenge” and “capable of reaching the top” after Boreham Wood turned down a £1.5m offer from Swedish side Djurgarden for the in-demand forward.
The National League club have now rebuffed two bids from the Allsvenskan outfit, who also saw a £1m proposal rejected earlier this month. The latest offer would have set a new record fee for a player from England’s fifth tier, eclipsing the £1m Leicester paid Fleetwood Town for Jamie Vardy in 2012.
For now, Boreham Wood are standing firm.
Manager Luke Garrard underlined the club’s stance at the weekend, insisting “he is our player” after Abdulmalik was left out of the squad for Saturday’s 3-0 win over Forest Green.
The omission only intensified speculation. The player’s response was to speak with clarity and conviction.
“Everyone at Boreham Wood FC and the incredible fans have played a massive part in my journey. You will always have my respect,” Abdulmalik said in a statement released through his agent.
Then came the line that will echo well beyond the National League.
“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.”
A breakout year
Abdulmalik, 23, has forced his way into the wider conversation with a standout 2025-26 campaign. He hit 17 goals and supplied 10 assists as Boreham Wood surged to the National League play-off final.
On the biggest stage of his career so far, at Wembley, he delivered again – scoring and creating in the showpiece as Boreham Wood fell just short of promotion.
That form has drawn serious interest from Djurgarden, one of Sweden’s leading clubs, who view him as ready to step into a top-flight environment. For Abdulmalik, the opportunity represents something far bigger than a routine transfer.
“Through sheer hard work and perseverance, the opportunity to progress has come around,” he continued. “This is my chance to push myself as a footballer, elevate my game and most importantly fulfil my promise to the ones around me.”
He did not hide what this move would mean to him – and to others watching his journey.
“Opportunities like this are rare, especially within the National League where some of the hardest working talent is overlooked,” he said. “The game of football is forever changing and decisions are fast paced. There’s no guarantee that the same chances come knocking twice.
“I owe it to myself and the kids growing up just like me to fight for this one I’ve been offered.”
From Millwall release to hot property
Abdulmalik’s rise has not followed a straight line.
He came through Millwall’s academy, progressing through the youth ranks and representing England at under-17 level. Within the club’s Under-21s he tasted success, helping secure back-to-back Professional Development League South titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The pathway to regular senior football, though, never truly opened up. In 2024, Millwall released him.
Boreham Wood stepped in, picking him up as a free agent. Two years on, that piece of business looks inspired: a free transfer now the subject of a seven-figure bid from abroad.
Club v ambition
For Boreham Wood, the dilemma is obvious. Cash in on a record-breaking fee, or hold tight to a player who has become central to their ambitions of climbing out of the National League.
For Abdulmalik, the equation feels different. This is about timing, momentum, and a belief that his next move must propel him towards the level he insists he can reach.
He has made his position plain. The club, for the moment, have answered just as clearly.
BBC Sport has contacted Boreham Wood for comment. The next move in this stand-off will say plenty about how far a National League club is willing to go to keep hold of a player who believes his future lies at the very top.
