Abdul Abdulmalik: Is the Boreham Wood star worth a National League record fee?
When it comes to non-league football, there’s one name on everyone’s lips: Abdul Abdulmalik.
The Boreham Wood star is one of the most talked-about players in the National League at the minute, following a breakout 25-goal-contribution campaign for the Woods last season.
Boreham Wood initially rejected a £1 million offer from Djurgarden, then reportedly rejected an improved £1.5m offer.
This would comfortably break the existing National League transfer record - £1m fee Leicester City paid in 2012 for Fleetwood Town’s Jamie Vardy.
Sports News Blitz’s Will Jones debates whether the attacker is worth a record fee.
Abdulmalik looks ready for the next challenge
Amid the speculation, Abdul Abdulmalik appeared to hint at his desire for a move, with a statement released by his agent on Tuesday saying he is “ready for the next challenge” and “capable of reaching the top”.
The highly rated forward was notably absent from the squad that faced Forest Green Rovers at the weekend.
The 23-year-old arrived at Meadow Park in July 2024, following his departure from Championship side Millwall.
Following his progression through the Lions’ academy, he played for England at U-17 level before helping Millwall to back-to-back Premier League Professional Development League South titles in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.
However, a path to playing professionally didn’t quite materialise, and he was released in 2024.
Why Abdulmalik has attracted so much attention
Last season under Luke Garrard’s stewardship, Abdulmalik flourished from that wide left position for Boreham Wood.
Abdulmalik is an athletic winger who looks to dominate the opposition through his pace, balance, low centre of gravity and dynamic footwork.
A perfect example of what he can do was his goal against Aldershot last season.
He had the ball on the halfway line with two opponents in front of him and knocked it through his marker’s legs before surging forward with pace. He got to the edge of the box, chopped the ball inside onto his right foot and fired into the far corner.
Another goal that showcases his special talent was his goal against Yeovil.
He had the ball on the left-hand side of the pitch, dropped a shoulder to fool the full-back he was up against, before making a beeline inwards onto his right foot.
Once he got to the edge of the box, he curved his low right-footed shot into the far corner.
His goal against Eastleigh also sums him up as a player. Abdulmalik dropped a little deeper to receive the ball on the half turn, and he immediately drove forwards with it.
Once he got to the edge of the box, he shifted the ball onto his right foot, opened his body up and placed his shot into the far corner - a trademark finish of his.
Is Abdulmalik worth a record-breaking fee?
Many people are still questioning the hefty price tag that’s been touted for Abdulmalik, though.
He certainly passed the eye test, and his 25 goal contributions helped Boreham Wood into the National League play-offs last season, before just falling short in the final.
He won the National League Young Player of the Season award, seeing off the likes of Josh Stones, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Oli Whatmuff to claim the trophy.
A member of the Team of the Season too, the £1.5m price tag isn't necessarily a price for the player Abdulmalik is today - it could be an investment for the player he could potentially become.
At just 23 years of age, there’s no certainty over whether he’s reached his ceiling yet.
Despite his abundance of talent, he’s yet to prove himself at a level higher than the National League - a level where he will be given less time and space to perform.
Abdulmalik would not be the first young National League player to attract significant money from a Football League club.
In 2020, Peterborough United paid Barnet £500,000 for 21-year-old Jack Taylor, with the deal potentially rising to £1m through add-ons.
Taylor's move demonstrates that clubs at a higher level have been willing to gamble significant sums on young talent emerging from the fifth tier.
Since then, Taylor has gone on to play in the Premier League and Championship for Ipswich Town.
Even more recently, AFC Fylde sold talented, young forward Danny Ormerod to League One side Peterborough United for around £600k.
The 20-year-old scored 31 goals for the Coasters as they won the National League North title last season.
Why Djurgarden could be the right move
Swedish top-flight side Djurgarden have done the most to try and secure Abdulmalik’s signature so far.
They’ve seen bids worth £750,000, £1million and most recently £1.5m all rejected.
The Swedish club’s model reportedly works around developing promising talent and selling them on for profit - Abdulmalik looks like a great opportunity from this perspective.
The club has previously developed players who have subsequently moved on for substantial fees.
These include Lucas Bergvall, who joined Tottenham, and Samuel Dahl, who moved to Roma.
For Abdulmalik, Djurgarden could represent the ideal middle ground.
Rather than jumping straight from the National League into the pressure of English professional football, he would be joining an established top-flight club where he could test himself against better opposition while continuing his development.
There would, however, be risks. Moving abroad would mean adapting to a new country, league and style of football, while there is no guarantee he would immediately become a regular starter.
Ultimately, there is no guarantee Abdulmalik can replicate his National League form at a higher level.
But clubs aren't paying £1.5m purely for the player he is today. They are investing in the possibility of what he could become in the future.
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