{
  "id": 4391678,
  "title": "Boreham Wood accept Vardy-beating record fee for Abdulmalik",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/boreham-wood-accept-vardy-beating-record-fee-for-abdulmalik",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-30T09:19:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Sport Football",
    "slug": "bbc-sport-football",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2zvw14e8zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Djurgardens, a Swedish club, has signed winger Abdul Abdulmalik from Boreham Wood in what is believed to be the highest fee ever paid for a fifth-tier English player, reportedly exceeding £1.5 million. The 23-year-old's transfer surpasses the previous record set in 2012 when Leicester City purchased Jamie Vardy from Fleetwood Town for £1 million. Abdulmalik is currently in Sweden for a medical examination following the agreement reached on Sunday.\n\nAbdulmalik had an impressive season in 2025-26, netting 17 goals and providing 10 assists as Boreham Wood advanced to the National League play-off final, where he scored and assisted a goal at Wembley. The transfer resolves a long-standing bidding war, as Boreham Wood had previously rejected offers of £1 million and £1.5 million for the former Millwall academy player. The Hertfordshire club released Abdulmalik in August, but he opted to withdraw from the team to pursue a new opportunity.\n\nSeveral English clubs, including Peterborough United, had shown interest in Abdulmalik. Prior to his time at Millwall, the forward was an England Under-17 international and had an unsuccessful trial at Portsmouth. Djurgardens, based in Stockholm, currently sit fifth in the Allsvenskan, a Swedish league spanning from April to November. The club has two additional games in hand compared to their rivals and remains competitive for European qualification.",
  "summary": "Djurgardens, a Swedish club, has agreed to a National League record fee to sign winger Abdul Abdulmalik from Boreham Wood. The fee is thought to be in excess of £1.5m.\n\nAccording to Yahoo Sports, this deal breaks the record fee paid for a fifth-tier player in England, which was set in 2012 when Leicester City paid Fleetwood Town £1m for Jamie Vardy.\n\nAbdulmalik, 23, had a breakthrough season in 2025-26 with Boreham Wood, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists. He won the National League Cup with the team last season. The player is currently in Sweden completing a medical.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Boreham Wood accept Vardy-beating record fee for Abdulmalik",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/boreham-wood-accept-vardy-beating-record-fee-for-abdulmalik-4391729",
        "published": "2026-08-30T09:19:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Boreham Wood accept Vardy-beating record fee for Abdulmalik",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/boreham-wood-accept-vardy-beating-record-fee-for-abdulmalik-4391848",
        "published": "2026-08-30T09:23:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}