Boreham Wood accept Vardy-beating record fee for Abdulmalik

Djurgardens, a Swedish club, has secured winger Abdul Abdulmalik from Boreham Wood in a deal believed to be worth over £1.5 million, setting a new National League record fee for a fifth-tier player in England. Abdulmalik, 23 years old, is set to complete a medical after the agreement was finalized on Sunday. The winger had a stellar season with Boreham Wood, netting 17 goals and providing 10 assists, leading his team to the National League play-off final where he scored and assisted a goal at Wembley.

Abdulmalik's transfer to Djurgardens marks the end of a protracted transfer saga, as Boreham Wood had previously rejected offers of £1 million and £1.5 million for the former Millwall academy player. The Hertfordshire club had previously rejected bids of £1 million and £1.5 million for the former Millwall academy player earlier in the summer. Abdulmalik expressed his readiness for the next challenge, stating he is prepared to prove himself capable of reaching the top.

Several English clubs, including Peterborough United, had shown interest in signing Abdulmalik. Prior to his time at Boreham Wood, Abdulmalik was an England Under-17s international but was released by Millwall in 2024. He also had an unsuccessful trial at Portsmouth. Djurgardens, based in Stockholm, currently sit fifth in the Allsvenskan, a league that runs from April to November, and have two games in hand compared to most of their rivals. They remain in contention to qualify for European competition.