26 Facts About Joel Ekstrand

Lars Hening Joel Ekstrand was born on 4 February 1989 and is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Since then, Joel Ekstrand had developed himself into a key player at Helsingborg IF with the likes of Marcus Nilsson, Andreas Granqvist and Samir Beloufa.

At the start of the 2009 season, Joel Ekstrand helped Helsingborgs IF side go to their winning form in the first three league matches to the season.

At the start of the 2010 season, Joel Ekstrand was in defensive first team position when he helped the side go on unbeaten run for Helsingborgs IF's first twelve matches to the start season.

The club confirmed that Joel Ekstrand was expected to leave the club.

On 18 January 2011, Joel Ekstrand penned a four-year deal with Serie A side Udinese, keeping him through to 2015.

Since joining the club Joel Ekstrand found himself out of first team, as he mostly sat out from the squad, as well as, facing competition from Andrea Coda.

On 31 August 2012, Joel Ekstrand joined Championship side Watford on a season-long loan from Udinese.

On 12 May 2013, Joel Ekstrand played in the semi-final second leg against Leicester City.

On 24 July 2013, Watford confirmed Joel Ekstrand had signed a three-year deal on a permanent basis, keeping him until 2016.

Joel Ekstrand then made a playing comeback from injury in January 2016 after being out injured since March 2015, playing two matches for Watford's development squad, however he picked up an injury in an against Boreham Wood on 26 January 2016.

On 6 September 2016, Joel Ekstrand signed for Championship club Bristol City on a one-year deal, after training with the squad during August.

Joel Ekstrand was previously linked with a move to the club before joining in favour of Leeds United, only for the move to broke down.

On 2 February 2017, free agent Joel Ekstrand signed for fellow Championship side Rotherham United on a deal until the end of the season.

Joel Ekstrand left Rotherham United at the end of his contract.

In July 2004, Joel Ekstrand was called up to the Sweden U15 squad for the first time.

Joel Ekstrand went on to make two more appearances for Sweden U15.

In March 2005, Joel Ekstrand was called up to the Sweden U16 for the first time.

In March 2006, Joel Ekstrand was called up to the Sweden U17 squad for the first time.

Joel Ekstrand went on to make three more appearances for Sweden U18.

Joel Ekstrand went on to make six more appearances for the Sweden U19.

In September 2008, Joel Ekstrand was called up to the Sweden U21 squad for the first time, but did not play.

On 23 May 2009, Joel Ekstrand was selected for the Swedish u21 squad competing in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

Joel Ekstrand later made five more appearances for Sweden U21 the following year.

In December 2009, Joel Ekstrand was called up by Sweden for the first time.

Joel Ekstrand made his full Sweden debut in a friendly against Syria in 2010.