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Now it is finished. Following a loan from IK Sirius, it is clear that Hjalmar Ekdal will leave Stockholmsklubben Hammarby and join rival Djurgården.
– It feels super good. It took a while, but we have been hopeful from the beginning. For their part, it was clear that they were very hungry, so I was quickly flattered. It felt like a good option. I am very happy for the opportunity, Hjalmar Ekdal tells Fotbollskanalen shortly after it was made official.
After an impressive season at Sirius, the Uppsala club hinted that they wanted to expand with Ekdal, but by the end of the year Djurgården was rumored to be showing interest. Ekdal says that at the end of the season he was still divided over the future and that he first learned of Djurgården’s interest a few weeks ago.
– Djurgården is enthusiastic about me as he has followed me since the time in Frej. They have always found me an interesting player. Since then they haven’t promised playing time, it’s hard to do. Which, of course, I understand. But I’m really looking forward to getting there and learning from Kim (Bergstrand, coach) and “Tolle” (Thomas Lagerlöf) and the other midfielders, who are more experienced than me.
How do you want to play and be used?
– I want to play how they see me. A skilled midfielder with the ball who should be able to propel his attacks and be part of his possession. Regardless of the form of training, I want to be able to play everywhere on the baseline. In Siris, he was left on the treble line and in a formation with two midfielders.
On the Hammarby website, the club says that selling to another Stockholm club “is of course one of the unusual things,” but that Ekdal is seen as an exception as the 22-year-old has not played a competitive match in the club.
– It wasn’t that long (the time in Hammarby). I was there for six months before going on loan to Sirius, which was a huge success for me as I had a lot more chances to play last year. He’s probably never seen me as an established Hammarby player because of that.
Wasn’t there talk of you being used more in Hammarby?
– No, not much was said about that. When I was on loan, I focused on mine and Hammarby focused on his.
Can you be disappointed that you didn’t have the opportunity?
– I understand that it is difficult to come from Frej who came out of the Superettan and go to a Hammarby that had a lot of pressure on him, I buy that they did not let me play immediately, but disappointed and disappointed. Maybe I didn’t do well in Hammarby.
How do you see a rival as great as Djurgården going?
– From the beginning I felt that it was not part of Hammarby’s plans for next year. When Djurgården appeared, it was a flattering alternative and they were very excited about me. I’ve only heard exciting things about the coaches and good things about the club from the players, so I saw it as a good alternative and it was extremely tagged.
You mentioned you didn’t see a future in Hammarby, can you develop yourself?
– No, but I did not receive the indications that it was simply included in the plans. Not so concrete that they wanted me to leave, but …
Has the family participated in the election?
– It has been known since before that Albin is from Djurgårdare but no such thing. I am a professional footballer and I have to look out for my own interests.
Hjalmar is the brother of the national team and Serie A player Albin Ekdal. The Sampdoria player has already opened to go to Djurgården when it is time to return to Sweden. What does Hjalmar think the Dif fans now expect?
– They know that Albin is a farmer and that he really wants to play here. But now he is a professional in Serie A and he is very good, he can play week after week and he thrives well in professional life. There are many different factors that come into play, you simply have to answer those questions.
But would you think it would be a lot of fun if he came?
– It would have been a dream come true. It is not something that I dare to confess but now I see a small opportunity.
Your contract with Djurgården was drawn up until 2024, how was the discussion?
– I don’t know, it’s a long-term aspect of the whole. I like that and they thought it sounded good. So I see it as a positive.
