A National League transfer record has been broken after Boreham Wood agreed a fee believed to be in excess of £1.5m for winger Abdul Abdulmalik. The 23-year-old is in Sweden completing a medical after Djurgardens reached the agreement on Sunday morning.
Abdulmalik enjoyed a breakout 2025-26 campaign, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists as Boreham Wood progressed to the National League play-off final. He both scored and set up a goal at Wembley during that run, establishing himself as the club's most valuable asset.
The fee eclipses the previous high for a fifth-tier player, originally established in 2012 when Leicester City paid Fleetwood Town £1m for Jamie Vardy. Boreham Wood had resisted earlier offers this summer, turning down bids of £1m and £1.5m before agreeing terms with the Stockholm club.
Abdulmalik addressed the move directly, saying, "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." He scored in his final appearance for Boreham Wood in mid-August, then made himself unavailable for selection while pursuing the transfer. Clubs in England, including Peterborough United, had expressed interest.
The move ends a long-running transfer saga that followed the former Millwall academy player's release by Millwall in 2024 and an unsuccessful trial at Portsmouth. Abdulmalik is also a former England Under-17s international.
For Djurgardens the signing arrives while they sit fifth in the Allsvenskan, the Swedish top flight that runs from April to November. The club has two games in hand on most rivals and remains in contention to qualify for European competition. The medical in Sweden is the final formal step before the transfer is completed and Abdulmalik begins life in Stockholm.
