Burnley have made it clear that they will not sell defender Hjalmar Ekdal on the cheap, despite his limited appearances for the club.
The centre-back, who is currently on loan at Dutch side FC Groningen, is valued highly by the Championship side.
Clarets Determined to Recoup Transfer Fee
Ekdal, 26, suffered a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for six months before returning to full fitness in December. Since then, his only appearance for Burnley came in the FA Cup against Reading, where he played 48 minutes.
With first-team opportunities limited, the club sanctioned a loan move to FC Groningen in January, where he has made four starts and impressed with his performances. However, Burnley are reportedly unwilling to let the Sweden international leave for less than what they originally paid for him.
“The Championship club refuse to sell Ekdal cheaper,” reports FotbollDirekt. “Burnley invested SEK 32m (€3m) plus SEK 10m (€900,000) in bonuses to buy the player from Djurgårdens IF in January 2023. The English club want to recover the fee they paid through his sale.”
What’s Next for Ekdal?
Despite his strong form in the Netherlands, Ekdal is not expected to remain at Groningen beyond his loan spell. However, a return to Sweden has been ruled out, with Burnley still considering him as an asset in their squad.
Before moving to England, the centre-back had stints at various clubs, including IK Frej, Hammarby IF, and Djurgårdens IF, where he won Allsvenskan Player of the Month in September 2021. He then made the switch to Burnley in January 2023 and scored on his debut against Norwich City.
While his long-term future at Turf Moor remains uncertain, Burnley are expected to keep hold of him unless a club meets their financial demands.
Writer’s View
Ekdal’s situation is an interesting one. While he has struggled for minutes at Burnley, his performances on loan suggest he still has a role to play at a high level. The club’s stance on his transfer fee indicates that they see value in him, whether as part of their squad or as a potential sale to generate funds.
If he continues to impress at Groningen, interest from European clubs could rise, giving Burnley the leverage they need to get their asking price.
