BK Häcken captain Mikkel Rygaard is leaving the club. The Danish midfielder's contract expires at the end of the year and he has received no concrete renewal offer from the Allsvenskan side.

"As it looks today, it seems like my time at Häcken is coming to an end," says Rygaard. The 35-year-old has been a key figure since 2022, making 180 competitive appearances for the club where he won both the Swedish league and cup. He has held informal talks with the sporting director, a former teammate, who expressed a desire to see him stay in a different role. However, Rygaard stresses he cannot rely on promises without a written contract.

No surprise

Rygaard says he is not surprised by the situation. He points to Häcken's tendency to delay contractual matters. He hopes the club will communicate their decision respectfully if they choose a different path. With less than six months remaining on his deal, he is now free to formally talk to other clubs. He has already held discussions with a Danish club, which he confirms but does not name. "Yes, that was it. We'll probably have to leave the rest unsaid for now," he states.

The player now plans to meet with his agent to review future options. His primary interest is a return to Denmark, and he understands if Häcken wants to pursue younger midfield alternatives. Rygaard previously played for clubs like Lyngby Boldklub and FC Nordsjælland before moving to Gothenburg nearly five years ago.

Table context

While the future of an experienced player is decided, Häcken's season continues. The team sits fifth in Allsvenskan with 36 points from 22 games. They have won nine, drawn nine, and lost four. Recent form is steady with two wins, two draws, and one loss in the last five. In the latest round, a 5-0 away win against Kalmar FF, Gustav Lindgren scored a hat-trick. He is the team's top scorer this season with twelve goals. The next fixture is a home match against bottom side Örgryte IS on October 11.

For Rygaard, this means his final months in the black and yellow shirt could coincide with a season run-in. The captain's departure marks the end of an era, but the club has already shown offensive strength this season with 39 goals scored. The concrete work of building for the future continues alongside the chase for points in the standings.

Read the full report at fotbollskanalen.se