Gustav Henriksson, 23, is ready for Elfsborg. On Friday it was officially that the midfielder returns to Boråsklubben after almost a year in Wolfsberger, Austria.
Henriksson has signed a contract for the 2025 season and will now compete for one of two center-back positions in Elfsborg – and really. Coach Jimmy Thelin now has three top midfielders of all-Swedish standards measured to choose from in the squad, this after Leo Väisänen, 24, recently extended his contract and Maudo Jarjué, 24, was bought out and signed permanently for the club.
A pleasant challenge for Boråsklubben. But still a challenge to handle.
– If you look back, we have a good record when it comes to midfielders who have played for us and then left for abroad. We have (Sebastian) Holmén, (Ibrahim) Dresević and (Joseph) Okumu. There are a number. With our ambitions and goals, it is clear that we need a squad with good players, even in addition to those who start, says Elfsborg’s club manager Stefan Andreasson to Fotbollskanalen.
– Then what about team selections, I leave that to Jimmy and company.
Do you expect to sell any of the midfielders in the near future?
– What happens in six months, one or two years ahead is difficult to answer. I think most of our players have attracted interest for some years now. We, together with the players concerned, should feel that it is right. There is no conclusion. We are open and positive about sales at the right time. It is in our identity to sell players.
Even though Leo Väisänen has been before open that he wants to take the “next step” in his career he thus extended his contract with Elfsborg. Stefan Andreasson believes that the club has a verbal agreement with several players not to stop a sale abroad when the opportunity arises.
– We always have a common plan that matches the player’s ambitions. They will play in Elfsborg for a certain period of time, be the best in their position in Sweden and then we will wait to see what opportunities there are. Leo is an example. He will end up outside Scandinavia, and it could have happened now (after the season), says Andreasson and continues:
– But we felt with Leo that the alternatives that were available were not attractive enough. Then we wait. We do not see any sales as a threat to business. If you look at how many Elfsborgers have gone abroad, had long careers there and done well, I am most proud. We have no clauses in our player agreements, but we work with trust and relationships.
Stefan Andreasson also talks about the decision to recruit Gustav Henriksson back.
– As always, we have good relations with our Elfsborgers who are abroad. You never know when it’s the right time to come home, the player himself must feel that it’s right. When we felt that Gustav wanted to go home, we acted and worked to find a solution with his then club. He comes home at a good age and we know what he can do before, so it feels great that he is home again.
Elfsborg was in the fight for the Swedish Championship gold for 2021 for a long time, but ended up in fourth place in last year’s Allsvenskan.
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