Hjalmar Ekdal Explained

Hjalmar Ekdal
Full Name:Hjalmar Ekdal[1]
Birth Date:21 October 1998
Birth Place:Stockholm, Sweden[2]
Height:1.87 m[3]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Burnley
Clubnumber:18
Youthyears1:–2017
Youthclubs1:IF Brommapojkarna
Collegeyears1:2017
College1:UNC Wilmington Seahawks
Collegecaps1:20
Collegegoals1:2
Years1:2018–2019
Clubs1:IK Frej
Caps1:30
Goals1:3
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Assyriska FF (loan)
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2019–2020
Clubs3:Hammarby IF
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2019
Clubs4:IK Frej (loan)
Caps4:15
Goals4:0
Years5:2020
Clubs5:IK Sirius (loan)
Caps5:26
Goals5:0
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Djurgårdens IF
Caps6:50
Goals6:7
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Burnley
Caps7:17
Goals7:1
Nationalyears1:2018
Nationalteam1:Sweden U19
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2020
Nationalteam2:Sweden U21
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2022–
Nationalteam3:Sweden
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:21:15, 12 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:23, 5 June 2024 (UTC)

Hjalmar Ekdal (in Swedish pronounced as /ˈjǎlmar ˈêːkdɑːl/; born 21 October 1998) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Burnley and the Sweden national team.

Beginning his professional career with IK Frej in 2018, Ekdal briefly represented Assyriska FF, Hammarby IF, and IK Sirius before signing with Djurgårdens IF in 2021.

Club career

Early career

Ekdal was born in Stockholm and started to play football with IF Brommapojkarna as a youngster.[4] In 2017, he left to club to study in the United States and play college soccer for UNC Wilmington Seahawks.[5] While in the US, he played in 20 games and scored two goals as the Seahawks reached the final of the 2017 CAA Men's Soccer Tournament before losing 4–2 to William & Mary Tribe.[6]

IK Frej

In May 2018, Ekdal returned to his native country and signed a two-year deal with IK Frej in Superettan, Sweden's second tier.[7] He played 15 league games throughout the year, scoring once, as the club finished 9th in the table.[8] Ekdal also made one appearance out on loan with Assyriska FF in Division 1, the third tier.[9]

In 2019, Ekdal had a major breakthrough and established himself in the starting eleven at IK Frej.[10] He played all 30 league games in Superettan during the season, scoring twice, but was unable to save the club from relegation.[8]

Hammarby IF

On 19 July 2019, Ekdal transferred to Hammarby IF in Allsvenskan, signing a two-year deal.[11] It was also announced that he would remain eligible for affiliated club IK Frej for the rest of the season.[10] On 3 March 2020, Ekdal was sent on loan to fellow Allsvenskan club IK Sirius for the remainder of the season.[12]

Djurgårdens IF

On 4 January 2021, Ekdal joined Djurgårdens IF on a four-year contract.[13] He was named the Allsvenskan player of the month for the month of September 2021.[14]

Burnley

On 21 January 2023, Ekdal joined Championship leaders Burnley on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[15] He earned his debut appearance for the Clarets on 4 February in a 3–0 away win against Norwich City in the EFL Championship, in which he scored his first Burnley goal in the 60th minute.[16]

International career

Youth

Ekdal was called up to the Sweden under-19 national team in October 2018,[17] and featured in two friendlies against Denmark (3–1 win) and Russia (1–1 draw) the same month.[18] He was called up to the Sweden U21 team for the first time on 26 August 2020.[19]

Senior

Ekdal was called up to the Sweden national team for the first time on 1 December 2021, for two friendlies against Finland in January 2022.[20] However, the friendlies were cancelled two weeks later because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[21] Ekdal was once again called up to the national team on 18 May 2022, for Sweden's 2022–23 UEFA Nations League games against Slovenia, Norway, and Serbia in June 2022.[22]

He made his full international debut for Sweden on 9 June 2022 in the UEFA Nations League game against Serbia, playing the full 90 minutes at centre back in a 1–0 loss.[23]

Personal life

He is the son of journalist Lennart Ekdal and the brother of fellow footballer Albin Ekdal, who's played for Allsvenskan, Serie A and Bundesliga clubs and the Sweden national team.[2] [4]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
IF Brommapojkarna2017[24] Superettan000000
IK Frej2018Superettan15142193
2019Superettan30220322
Total4534220515
Assyriska FF (loan)2018Ettan Fotboll1010
Hammarby IF2019Allsvenskan000000
IK Sirius (loan)2020Allsvenskan26010270
Djurgården IF2021Allsvenskan26462326
2022Allsvenskan24360111414
Total507122111007310
Burnley2022–23Championship910091
2023–24Premier League80001090
Total1710010181
Career total13911174101112017016

International

[25]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Sweden202220
202340
202410
Total70

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023/24 Premier League squad lists . Premier League . 13 September 2023 . 13 September 2023.
  2. Web site: 2017 Men's Soccer Roster: Hjalmar Ekdal. 10 February 2020. UNC Wilmington Sports. English.
  3. Web site: Hjalmar Ekdal. 10 February 2020. Hammarby Fotboll. Swedish.
  4. Web site: Hjalmar Ekdal vill gå i brorsans fotspår. 10 February 2020. 15 July 2014. Expressen. Swedish.
  5. Web site: Stensson och Ekdal till USA – Fors tränar med herrlaget. 28 June 2017 . 10 February 2020. IF Brommapojkarna. Swedish.
  6. Web site: Men's Soccer vs William & Mary (CAA Championship) on 11/12/2017 - Box Score. 14 October 2021. UNC Wilmington Athletics. en.
  7. Web site: Officiellt: IK Frej Täby värvar Hjalmar Ekdal. 10 February 2020. 9 April 2018. Fotbolltransfers.com. Swedish.
  8. Web site: Spelarstatistik: Hjalmar Ekdal. 10 February 2010. Swedish Football Association. Swedish.
  9. Web site: Samarbetsavtal med IK Frej. 10 February 2020. 9 June 2018. Assyriska FF. Swedish.
  10. Web site: Hjalmar Ekdal lämnar IK Frej Täby för Hammarby IF. 10 February 2020. 19 July 2018. IK Frej. Swedish. 27 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220727183036/https://www.laget.se/ikfrejherr/News/6028929/Hjalmar-Ekdal-lamnar-IK-Frej-Taby-for-Hammarby-IF. dead.
  11. Web site: Hjalmar Ekdal klar för Hammarby. 10 February 2020. 19 July 2019. Hammarby IF. Swedish. 23 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230423065554/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/hjalmar-ekdal-klar-for-hammarby/. dead.
  12. Web site: Hjalmar Ekdal lånas ut till IK Sirius. 3 March 2020. 3 March 2020. Hammarby IF. Swedish. 23 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230423051036/https://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/hjalmar-ekdal-lanas-ut-till-ik-sirius/. dead.
  13. Web site: 4 January 2021. Hjalmar Ekdal klar för DIF. 18 October 2021. Djurgården Fotboll.
  14. Web site: 12 October 2021. Hjalmar Ekdal och Henrik Rydström är september månads vinnare i Allsvenskan. 18 October 2021. Föreningen Svensk Elitfotboll. sv-SE.
  15. Web site: EKDAL ARRIVES AT TURF MOOR. www.burnleyfootballclub.com. 21 January 2023. 21 January 2023.
  16. Web site: Ekdal enjoys dream debut . Burnley F.C. . 4 February 2023 .
  17. Web site: Dusan Jajic och Hjalmar Ekdal uttagna till U20-landslaget. 10 February 2020. 10 October 2018. IK Frej. Swedish. 27 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220727183034/https://www.laget.se/ikfrejherr/News/5715832/Dusan-Jajic-och-Hjalmar-Ekdal-uttagna-till-U20-landslaget. dead.
  18. Web site: Landslagsdatabasen: Hjalmar Ekdal. 10 February 2020. Swedish Football Association. Swedish.
  19. Web site: U21-truppen till EM-kvalet - Svensk fotboll. 26 August 2020. www.svenskfotboll.se. 26 August 2020 . sv.
  20. Web site: Klart: Här är Sveriges trupp till januariturnén . 23 May 2022 . fotbollskanalen . sv.
  21. Web site: Januariturnén ställs in efter ökad smittspridning . 23 May 2022 . www.aftonbladet.se . 16 December 2021 . sv.
  22. Web site: 18 May 2022 . Hjalmar Ekdal uttagen i A-landslaget . 23 May 2022 . Djurgården Fotboll.
  23. Web site: Sverige - Serbien - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll . 10 June 2022 . www.svenskfotboll.se . sv . 19 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230719222851/https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-serbien-landskamper-herr-senior/5055663/ . dead .
  24. Web site: H. Ekdal. 23 January 2023 . Soccerway.
  25. Web site: Hjalmar Ekdal - Spelarstatistik . 10 June 2022 . Svensk fotboll . sv .
  26. Web site: UNCW's Hjalmar Ekdal named CAA Rookie of the Year. 14 October 2021. WECT. 10 November 2017 . en.
  27. Web site: Hjalmar Ekdal - Men's Soccer. 14 October 2021. UNC Wilmington Athletics. en.
  28. Web site: NCCSIA Announces 2017 University Division All-State Men's Soccer Teams - North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association. 14 October 2021. www.nccsia.org.
  29. Web site: UNCW freshman named CAA player of the week. 14 October 2021. WECT. 4 September 2017 . en.
  30. Web site: 7 December 2021. Hjalmar Ekdal utsedd till Årets försvarare i Allsvenskan. 8 December 2021. Djurgården Fotboll.