LOAN REPORT: HJALMAR EKDAL

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

A review on how the defender got on during loan spell in the Netherlands

2025-06-10T12:00:00.000Z

LOAN REPORT: HJALMAR EKDAL

A review on how the defender got on during loan spell in the Netherlands

2025-06-10T12:00:00.000Z

A review on how the defender got on during loan spell in the Netherlands

Hjalmar Ekdal made the loan move to FC Groningen in January of this year, after joining the Eredivisie side on a loan deal until the end of the season and it was a short spell away which he very much 'enjoyed'.

The Swedish defender was named on the bench for his first game involved, before making his debut against Sparta Rotterdam and then starting the following 14 league matches.

Speaking to Clarets+, Ekdal said: "I really enjoyed my time in the Netherlands. It was a different, but really good and competitive league to play in.

"I met some very good people and It was very beneficial for me to get playing football again and building my fitness back up to where I need it to be.

"All round, a very positive loan move for me and I'm looking forward to returning to pre-season later this summer and beginning the hard work again at Burnley."

In those 14 Eredivisie fixtures, Ekdal won 64% of his tackles, came out on top of 58% of his duels and won 47 aerial battles.

Possession wise, the 26-year-old centre-back made 638 successful passes and had a dribble success rate of 57.1%.

Ekdal helped Groningen secure five wins in the 14 games he featured in, as well as completing 90 minutes in the dramatic 2-2 draw with Ajax in the penultimate game of the campaign.

The Dutch side went on to finish the 2024/25 season in 13th place, securing top-flight football for another year, after achieving promotion last season.