Tearful farewell – moving to England

Jacob Widell Zetterström couldn't hold back tears after the win against Ilves on Thursday. The Djurgården goalkeeper is clear for a move abroad, and has played his last match for the club for this time. It was emotional in a good way, he says after the match.

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Tearful farewell – moving to England
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

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On Sunday, Djurgården will play a derby against AIK. But then, goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström will not be present.

He has indeed been cleared for English Derby County, and has thus played his last match for Djurgården after spending his entire senior career in the club.

After the match, the goalkeeper got to celebrate with the fans one last time, and then the tears came.

It was special. A lot of emotions. But it's supposed to be like that when you've had as much fun as I actually have had, he says and continues:

I'll miss them a lot, but at the same time, you can't forget that I'm going on new adventures that I'm really looking forward to as well. It's a dream to play English football. Something you've dreamed about your whole life.

"A special time"

Widell Zetterström's future has been uncertain for a long time, and the move to Derby has been in the works for a while. But the 26-year-old himself has had an uncertain summer, and got the news that the move would happen as late as earlier this week.

It's been a special time. But somehow, I think I've managed to shut it out pretty well. It's clear that there's been a lot going on, but the nice thing about football is that you can shut out most of it when you're on the pitch.

The 26-year-old has even gone over and done the medical examination, but now he's flying over to sign and join the club.

I'm flying tomorrow, so I won't have time to meet many people beforehand. I'm really looking forward to getting there.

But Widell Zetterström is clear: He has not played his last match in the Djurgården jersey.

I'll have a long career as a goalkeeper, and that's not what I'm thinking about now, because now I'm going to do something incredible. But I'll come back.

"An excellent step"

Derby is a newcomer in the English second division after taking the step up from the third division last season. And for Widell Zetterström, the choice of club was easy.

It seems to be people who, just like here, don't just care about the football player Jacob, but almost above all the person Jacob. I think it's an excellent step to take for me.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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