ARTICLE: Defender Ekdal joins the Clarets from Djurgårdens

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:01 am

Signing confirmed

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/defender-e ... jurgardens

1989_claret · Post by **1989_claret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:01 am

And as always a video is produced:

https://twitter.com/burnleyofficial/sta ... T_4zh_G-rw

Granny WeatherWax · Post by **Granny WeatherWax** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:06 am

Decent video! Prefer it to the Toy Story one.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:11 am

Laptop primed and ready to go with more incoming articles Tony?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:12 am

Four and a half year deal too

Granny WeatherWax · Post by **Granny WeatherWax** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:12 am

Must think a lot of him

RVclaret · Post by **RVclaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:13 am

Comments from Swedish fans I’ve seen that he was the best defender in their league. Some squad now is this.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:16 am

Added to squad list now

https://www.uptheclarets.com/players/squad-list

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:20 am

Does anyone know who our European scouts are and did they all arrive when Kompany did?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:22 am

fidelcastro wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:20 am
Does anyone know who our European scouts are and did they all arrive when Kompany did?

Kompany inherited the scouting team

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:23 am

fidelcastro wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:20 am
Does anyone know who our European scouts are and did they all arrive when Kompany did?

Analytics team, surely they can work from home or anywhere they can plug their laptops in.

UTC

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:23 am

Good to see about 10 of our squad contracted to at least the summer of 2006

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:24 am

From his former club

Since arriving from Sirius to the DIF in March 2021, things have rocketed for 24-year-old centre-back Hjalmar Ekdal who is now getting ready for the next destination on his football journey with games at Burnley, currently in convincing management in the EFL Championship.
In his luggage, he brings with him 50 all-Swedish matches (with seven goals scored), ten appearances in the Svenska Cupen and eleven games in the Conference League for Djurgården. During the same time, he has also made his national team debut and is well on his way to establishing himself as an important cog in Janne Andersson's squad.

Strong performances that have contributed to great success and made a big impression on the association. But now it's time to take the step further out into Europe.
"It feels cool of course and then it's clear that it will be a big challenge. But it's a chance that you might only get once," says Hjalmar, who has always had a good eye for English football.
"For me, the football culture in England attracts, it's the Mecca of football. Then the Championship is a special league: 24 teams, many games and very tight with classic gangs. Of course, that whole bit pulls and there's also a good chance it'll be the Premier League in six months' time - and it's really a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I've felt for quite some time that I've wanted to take on this challenge and I know it can get tough with playing time right away. But this is a chance that cannot be turned down.

That the transition will at the same time be emotionally ambivalent is inevitable considering that Hjalmar's heart beats hard for Djurgården.
"It's been a fantastic time and it's felt like a second home to me for two years. All the players and leaders have been like a family and to be able to come out to Kaknäs every day has been absolutely wonderful. So I would like to say a big thank you to everyone within the association and the entire Djurgård family for all the incredible experiences that I have been part of in DIF. I will think about it every day and I have already shaken hands with Bosse that I want to come back in the future, Hjalmar sums up.

And their manager

With the sale of Hjalmar Ekdal, sporting director Bosse Andersson fills in his impressive list of players who have been recruited smartly and developed and then taken the step out into Europe. At the same time, it is clear that Hjalmar will be greatly missed given his high capacity and large Djurgården heart.

"Hjalmar has had an incredible development since he came here from Sirius. So we are grateful that he chose Djurgården and he has done two fantastic years with us. That a Swedish player goes to England is not common at present and extra fun that it is to a team that is very well placed to advance up to the Premier League, says Bosse who attests that Hjalmar has been sought after by many for a long time.

– "Hjalle" had an interest already this summer and we have always had a very good dialogue. This has meant quite a long decision-making process that is now at the finish line. There have been plenty of other interests but Burnley are the best club football-wise in the hierarchy. For Hjalmar, Burnley have been the target and he has had his bag packed for a while now. Thus, it is just to wish a great luck and thank you for the time in Djurgården, Hjalmar is a fantastic person and player who has been very important to our group and who we will of course miss greatly. Now we wish him the best of luck and look forward to following his progress in Europe in the future.

summitclaret · Post by **summitclaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:25 am

Just got a feeling that this could turn out to be a massive signing for us.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:26 am

Brilliant. Great times.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:26 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:22 am
Kompany inherited the scouting team

Do you think there was just a reluctance by Dyche to sign from abroad, or were we just priced out because we were in the premier League?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:30 am

fidelcastro wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:26 am
Do you think there was just a reluctance by Dyche to sign from abroad, or were we just priced out because we were in the premier League?

Dyche explained many times that it was the owners who didn't want to take the risk of signings from other countries.

But time to move on, different owners, different manager, different team.

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:30 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:22 am
Kompany inherited the scouting team

Wow, that's blown me away a little bit. I just assumed it was Kompany's team from Anderlecht etc. Makes our transfer policy under Dyche even more baffling. I'm sure he said it takes the best part of a decade for the necessary scouting networks to be established.

MancunianClaret · Post by **MancunianClaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:32 am

fidelcastro wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:20 am
Does anyone know who our European scouts are and did they all arrive when Kompany did?

The head of player performance analytics joined us from Man City, I know that much

MancunianClaret · Post by **MancunianClaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:33 am

Great article CT

RVclaret · Post by **RVclaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:35 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:30 am
Dyche explained many times that it was the owners who didn't want to take the risk of signings from other countries.

But time to move on, different owners, different manager, different team.

While true I also think Dyche liked his British players who could quickly adapt to his system. Made mention several times when Cornet signed of him needing to learn the language and framework, for example.

As for new recruitment, it’s quite clear Kompany has had a huge say and they now use data and analytics a lot more they did. Not sure on personnel changes but I’d assume there’s been a few tweaks with new data based analysts.

MancunianClaret · Post by **MancunianClaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:37 am

MancunianClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:32 am
The head of player performance analytics joined us from Man City, I know that much

Head of analysis and insights https://trainingground.guru/articles/he ... ester-city

ksrclaret · Post by **ksrclaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:39 am

Brilliant. I’ve a mate who’s a, erm, his previous club’s fan, and he says he’s the business.

Seriously though, I really liked the look of him when I saw the clips posted on the transfer rumours thread. I think he’ll fit right in with our style and hopefully he’s been bought with one eye on stepping up to the PL. Weve all of a sudden got some fabulous options and cover at centre back.

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:40 am

Ekdal! His anagram's Dalek
Ekdal! Plays football on the deck
Ekdal! He signed for Kompany
Ekdal! He plays for Burn-a-Lee

(1st draft, ok?)

randomclaret2 · Post by **randomclaret2** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:44 am

Pickles wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:30 am
Wow, that's blown me away a little bit. I just assumed it was Kompany's team from Anderlecht etc. Makes our transfer policy under Dyche even more baffling. I'm sure he said it takes the best part of a decade for the necessary scouting networks to be established.

Exactly this

TopCat · Post by **TopCat** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:00 pm

bfcjg wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:11 am
Laptop primed and ready to go with more incoming articles Tony?

Not answered yet?

Bigbopper · Post by **Bigbopper** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:09 pm

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:40 am
Ekdal! His anagram's Dalek
Ekdal! Plays football on the deck
Ekdal! He signed for Kompany
Ekdal! He plays for Burn-a-Lee

(1st draft, ok?)

Do not bother with a second draft

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:14 pm

mdd2 wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:23 am
Good to see about 10 of our squad contracted to at least the summer of 2006

They've overstayed their welcome then!

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:18 pm

Bigbopper wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:09 pm
Do not bother with a second draft

HiThere · Post by **HiThere** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:18 pm

MancunianClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:32 am
The head of player performance analytics joined us from Man City, I know that much

That by itself sounds very significant.

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:18 pm

fidelcastro wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:14 pm
They've overstayed their welcome then!

I am still up with my head in the clouds after last night. Thanks for pointing a 20 year gap

IWOODLOVETT · Post by **IWOODLOVETT** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:19 pm

Longer contracts = bigger fees when we sell halfway through.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:33 pm

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:40 am
Ekdal! His anagram's Dalek
Ekdal! Plays football on the deck
Ekdal! He signed for Kompany
Ekdal! He plays for Burn-a-Lee

(1st draft, ok?)

gawthorpe_view · Post by **gawthorpe_view** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:45 pm

TopCat wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:00 pm
Not answered yet?

Too busy typing.

Probably.

Leisure · Post by **Leisure** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:46 pm

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:40 am
Ekdal! His anagram's Dalek
Ekdal! Plays football on the deck
Ekdal! He signed for Kompany
Ekdal! He plays for Burn-a-Lee

(1st draft, ok?)

Looking forward to the 5th draft!

ClaretGent · Post by **ClaretGent** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:49 pm

Welcome Hjalmar!

He's got a 1 in 8 goal scoring record for Djurgårdens

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 1:04 pm

Sounds really good, welcome aboard. I can’t find the article but didn’t we sign another defender earlier in the week?

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 1:22 pm

beddie wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 1:04 pm
Sounds really good, welcome aboard. I can’t find the article but didn’t we sign another defender earlier in the week?

Ameen Al-Dakhil was on the bench last night I think

Shaggy · Post by **Shaggy** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 1:51 pm

Good player and a good signing.

What a breath of fresh air Kompany is. Going out and signing all they these young talents from abroad paying very reasonable money for them:

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 1:57 pm

summitclaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:25 am
Just got a feeling that this could turn out to be a massive signing for us.

Me too.

claretinkorea · Post by **claretinkorea** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 3:07 pm

Surely the song has to be:

Hjelmar, Hjelmar Ekdal,
Hjelmar Ekdal,
Hjelmar, Hjelmar Ekdal

To the tune of No Limits by 2Unlimited.

Bolton used to have something similar for Mixu Paatalainen, I thought it sounded great

GodIsADeeJay81 · Post by **GodIsADeeJay81** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 3:26 pm

Pickles wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:30 am
Wow, that's blown me away a little bit. I just assumed it was Kompany's team from Anderlecht etc. Makes our transfer policy under Dyche even more baffling. I'm sure he said it takes the best part of a decade for the necessary scouting networks to be established.

Well he was here for the best part of a decade, so maybe the scouting team had just got settled in...

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 3:34 pm

Pickles wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:30 am
Wow, that's blown me away a little bit. I just assumed it was Kompany's team from Anderlecht etc. Makes our transfer policy under Dyche even more baffling. I'm sure he said it takes the best part of a decade for the necessary scouting networks to be established.

What I don't understand about this is that if the chairman didn't want to sign overseas players why did he bother setting up this scouting network?

Stayingup · Post by **Stayingup** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 3:59 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 3:34 pm
What I don't understand about this is that if the chairman didn't want to sign overseas players why did he bother setting up this scouting network?

For effect. Its money that he didn't want to spend.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 4:04 pm

Stayingup wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 3:59 pm
For effect. Its money that he didn't want to spend.

Well it's all worked out for the best, a brilliant 10 year plan

OffTheBar · Post by **OffTheBar** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 7:57 pm

Really feels like we’re cheating in this league now in some way. How are we going to accommodate all this talent, with seemingly more to come? What a great time!

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 8:20 pm

OffTheBar wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 7:57 pm
Really feels like we’re cheating in this league now in some way. How are we going to accommodate all this talent, with seemingly more to come? What a great time!

It's a nice problem for VK to have isn't it, but it's also worth pointing out we might well be recruiting with the PL in mind next season, plus we don't yet know what's happening with our loan signings in the longer term.

CaptainKirk · Post by **CaptainKirk** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 4:12 pm

Just had a look at his highlights reel - have we signed the next Beckenbaeur or what??
I know all highlight reels can make someone look good but he looks the real deal.
Great time to be a Burnley fan!!

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 5:14 pm

I still can't believe we got this guy for 2.6 Million.......if he was British he'd be 3 times that.

Burnley1989 · Post by **Burnley1989** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 5:36 pm

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:40 am
Ekdal! His anagram's Dalek
Ekdal! Plays football on the deck
Ekdal! He signed for Kompany
Ekdal! He plays for Burn-a-Lee

(1st draft, ok?)

I have the Ich Will tune by Rammstein in my head