Abdulmalik Ready for Next Challenge as 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 second major bid from Swedish side Djurgarden for the in-demand forward.
The National League club have rejected an offer worth £1.5m from the Allsvenskan outfit, having already knocked back a £1m approach earlier this month.
For a player in England’s fifth tier, the numbers are eye-catching. Had Boreham Wood accepted, the deal would have set a new record fee for a non-league player, eclipsing the £1m Leicester City paid Fleetwood Town for Jamie Vardy in 2012.
Instead, Boreham Wood are digging in.
Manager Luke Garrard underlined the club’s stance at the weekend, stressing "he is our player" after Abdulmalik was left out of the squad for the 3-0 win over Forest Green. The omission only sharpened the sense that a battle is brewing over the 23-year-old’s future.
"I'm ready for the next challenge"
Abdulmalik chose his words carefully but firmly in a statement released through his agent, paying tribute to the club and its supporters before making his ambition clear.
"Everyone at Boreham Wood FC and the incredible fans have played a massive part [in my journey]. You will always have my respect," he said.
"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."
The message was respectful. The intent was unmistakable.
He framed the Djurgarden interest as a pivotal moment in a career that has only just caught fire.
"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."
For Abdulmalik, this is about more than a move abroad or a bigger wage packet. It is about seizing a rare opening from outside the spotlight.
"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."
Breakout star of Boreham Wood’s promotion push
Abdulmalik’s stance is fuelled by a season that transformed him from a free transfer into one of non-league’s hottest properties.
In 2025-26 he delivered a breakout campaign: 17 goals, 10 assists, and a starring role as Boreham Wood surged all the way to the National League play-off final. On the biggest stage of their season, under the arch at Wembley, he both scored and created, underlining his ability to rise with the occasion.
Those numbers have not gone unnoticed. For a club operating in the fifth tier, turning down £1.5m is a statement of both ambition and risk.
From Millwall release to European interest
Abdulmalik’s route to this point has not been straightforward.
He came through Millwall’s academy, advancing through the youth ranks and representing England at under-17 level. He then formed part of a successful Under-21s group at The Den, helping secure back-to-back Professional Development League South titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The pathway to regular senior football never opened up. In 2024, Millwall released him.
Boreham Wood moved quickly, picking him up as a free agent. Two years on, they are turning away record-breaking offers for the same player.
Stand-off with the window ticking
Djurgarden’s interest is real, the money is on the table, and Abdulmalik has gone public with his desire to test himself higher up the ladder. Boreham Wood, at least for now, are refusing to cash in.
BBC Sport has contacted the club for comment.
A non-league side holding firm against a record bid, a 23-year-old forward desperate not to see a rare chance pass him by – something has to give.
