Jamie Vardy record finally set to be broken as National League side agree historic transfer

Swedish club Djurgardens have reportedly agreed a National League record deal to sign Boreham Wood sensation Abdul Abdulmalik.

The transfer fee for the 23-year-old winger is said to be over £1.5m, surpassing the previous record for an English fifth-tier player of £1m, paid by Leicester to sign Jamie Vardy from Fleetwood Town back in 2012.

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Abdulmalik’s scintillating campaign

Abdulmalik tore it up last season, scoring 17 goals and registering 10 assists – including one of each in the National League play-off final at Wembley, which Boreham Wood led 2-0 before succumbing to Rochdale on penalties.

A former England Under-17 international, he came through the youth ranks at Millwall but never made a first-team appearance for the Lions.

He got his first taste of senior on football on loan at another National League club, Wealdstone, during the 2023/24 campaign.

After being released by Millwall in the summer of 2024, he joined then sixth-tier Boreham Wood on a free transfer.

Abdulmalik featured regularly as the Wood won promotion back to the National League via the National League South play-offs in 2024/25.

He also helped the Hertfordshire club to victory in the 2025/26 National League Cup, a tournament for National League teams and Premier League Under-21 sides.

Boreham Wood chairman’s frustration

After featuring in Boreham Wood’s first two games of the 2026/27 campaign, scoring in their 3-1 win over FC Halifax Town, Abdulmalik was left out of their squad for last Saturday’s clash with Forest Green Rovers.

And chairman Danny Hunter admitted he was frustrated about the transfer sage surrounding his player.

While accepting Abdulmalik’s desire to seek a new challenge, Hunter felt he was being forced to accept a lower fee than he’d want.

He also revealed Abulmalik had refused to train or play for the club.

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Hunter wrote in his programme notes: “At the moment, Abdul is refusing to train with us or play, though he is still very much our player and has two years left on his contract.

“Our valuation is set, it is fair and we will not be lowering it any more than the £350k that we already have over the next five days.”

Boreham Wood had previously rejected a £1.5m bid from Djurgardens, for which Hunter was praised for his ‘cojones’ by Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony.

‘A chance to push myself’

Abdulmalik posted on Instagram on Tuesday about his proposed move: “Through sheer hard work and perseverance, the opportunity to progress has come around.

“This is my chance to push myself as a footballer, elevate my game and most importantly fulfil my promise to the ones around me.”

He’s now poised to join one of the most successful clubs in Sweden.

Djurgardens currently sit fifth in the Swedish top flight, the Allsvenskan, whose season runs from March to November.

They remain in contention to qualify for Europe next term, having most recently played in the 2024/25 Conference League.