£1.5m-rated Abdulmalik asks to leave Boreham Wood

WHAT HAPPENED
Boreham Wood turned down a £1.5m bid from Swedish side Djurgården for forward Abdul Abdulmalik, the club confirmed. The 23-year-old released a statement, via his agent, saying he is ready for a new challenge and believes he can reach the top, after having earlier seen a separate £1m offer rejected this month.

Manager Luke Garrard publicly insisted the player remains with Boreham Wood — saying "he is our player" — after Abdulmalik was omitted from the matchday squad for the club's 3-0 win over Forest Green.

KEY CONTEXT
- Abdulmalik enjoyed a breakthrough 2025-26 season, scoring 17 goals and registering 10 assists as Boreham Wood reached the National League play-off final; he both scored and provided an assist at Wembley in that match.
- Djurgården’s reported £1.5m proposal would have exceeded the record fee paid for a fifth-tier English player, the current benchmark being Leicester's £1m purchase of Jamie Vardy from Fleetwood in 2012.
- Abdulmalik progressed through Millwall’s academy, represented England at under-17 level and was part of Millwall Under-21 sides that won the Professional Development League South in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He was released in 2024 and joined Boreham Wood as a free agent.

WHY IT MATTERS
A completed move at the reported valuation would have reset the transfer record for a player moving from England’s fifth tier, underlining growing market attention on National League talent. Abdulmalik’s statistics from 2025-26 and his decisive contribution at Wembley explain why top-flight clubs, domestically and abroad, are monitoring him.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Djurgården will return with a higher bid after their two reported offers were rejected.
- Whether Boreham Wood maintain their stated stance that Abdulmalik is not for sale, and how that stance affects his involvement in upcoming matches.
- Any formal transfer developments or confirmations from the clubs or the player’s representatives.

KEY FACTS
- Boreham Wood rejected a reported £1.5m offer from Djurgården for Abdul Abdulmalik.
- A previous £1m offer from Djurgården was also turned down earlier this month.
- Abdulmalik scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 2025-26, scoring and assisting in the National League play-off final.
- He came through Millwall’s academy, played for England U17s, and was released by Millwall in 2024 before joining Boreham Wood.