For most and especially theater lovers, Hjalmar Ekdal is a character in Henrik Ibsen’s play “The Wild Duck”. This was first launched as far back as 1884, four years before the foundation of The English Football League. Strange and fun to see, Hjalmar Ekdal making his debut in the league so many years later, signing for Burnley in January 2023. He has probably little or nothing to do with Hjalmar Ekdal we know from the play, said to be a photograph and a fiction, far from real.

The father of Hjalmar, the footballer, is a known Swedish journalist and tv presenter named Lennart Ekdal. The brother of Hjalmer is also a footballer, his name is Albin Ekdal, a proven Swedish international, with 70 caps. He has at 34 years of age, returned to play for Djurgaarden, after a long career in different European countries, latest playing for Spezia in Italy.