Abdul Abdulmalik Ready for Next Challenge After £1.5m Bid Rejected

Abdul Abdulmalik insists he is “capable of reaching the top” after Boreham Wood rejected a £1.5m bid from Swedish club Djurgarden for the in-demand forward.

The National League side have already turned down an offer of £1m from the Allsvenskan outfit earlier this month and remain adamant they will not sell. Manager Luke Garrard underlined that stance at the weekend, stressing “he is our player” after Abdulmalik was left out of the squad for Boreham Wood’s 3-0 win over Forest Green.

For the 23-year-old, though, this feels like a crossroads.

In a statement released via his agent, Abdulmalik paid tribute to the club that revived his career and the supporters who have embraced him, before making it clear he wants to test himself at a higher level.

“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.”

That belief is backed up by his numbers. Abdulmalik exploded in the 2025-26 campaign, hitting 17 goals and supplying 10 assists as Boreham Wood surged to the National League play-off final. Under the arch at Wembley, he both scored and assisted, stamping his name on the club’s run.

Djurgarden’s interest reflects that rise. Their £1.5m proposal would have set a new benchmark for a player from England’s fifth tier, eclipsing the £1m Leicester City paid Fleetwood Town for Jamie Vardy in 2012. For a National League forward, this is rare air.

Abdulmalik sees it as the kind of moment that cannot be allowed to drift by.

“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.

“Opportunities like this are rare, especially within the National League where some of the hardest working talent is overlooked. 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.”

His journey to this point has already taken a few sharp turns. Abdulmalik came through Millwall’s academy, rising through the youth ranks and representing England at under-17 level. He featured in a successful crop at The Den, helping Millwall’s Under-21s secure back-to-back Professional Development League South titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Yet a clear route into senior football never opened up. Millwall released him in 2024, leaving him to rebuild his career as a free agent. Boreham Wood took the gamble. A year later, they are fielding record-breaking bids for their talisman.

For now, the club are standing firm. The player is pushing for his chance. And with a £1.5m offer already on the table and his stock rising, the next move in this stand-off could define Abdulmalik’s climb towards the level he insists he belongs at.