Hjalmar Ekdal

Key strength: Adaptability

Versatile player

Deep in the Championship relegation mire, Burnley sit 19th in the table with survival hanging by a thread. In this chaotic season, 27-year-old Swedish centre-back Hjalmar Ekdal has emerged as a rare beacon of defensive stability. With 11 appearances to his name this campaign, Ekdal's aerial dominance and disciplined positioning have made him a crucial defensive anchor for a side desperate for clean sheets. While yet to register goals or assists—the traditional metrics rarely tell the full story for a defender—his €6m valuation reflects Burnley's faith in his long-term potential. Contracted until 2027, Ekdal represents the club's attempt to build defensive foundations amid the turbulence. Wearing the #18 shirt, he competes for minutes alongside Jordan Beyer and Hannes Delcroix in a crowded centre-back rotation, but his ability to win aerial duels and progress play from the back offers exactly the composure Burnley need to claw their way out of the drop zone. In a season defined by struggle, Ekdal's steady presence at the heart of defense could yet prove the difference between relegation despair and survival hope.