AIK Coach Advocates for Martin Ellingsen's Contract Extension Amid Injury Challenges

Since joining AIK before last season, Martin Ellingsen has not played a single minute of Allsvenskan football. Now, Mikkjal Thomassen is open to extending Ellingsen's contract.

– He should feel that AIK has done everything to help him as much as possible – that's the only thing that matters to me, says the AIK coach.

Martin Ellingsen came to AIK from Molde as a prestigious signing ahead of the 2024 season. During the preseason and cup games, he was a fixture in Henning Berg's midfield. These are also the only competitive matches he has played for AIK so far. He was injured against Kalmar and has been out since.

There have been several developments, and as recently as this winter, he underwent surgery. When he can return to play for AIK is unclear.

Last spring, Mikkjal Thomassen explained that a new evaluation of Ellingsen would be made in the summer.

– We will make a new plan with Martin in August. Now he has to continue working in the same way he has been doing all along, said the AIK coach after the restart this week.

"The Only Right Thing is to Extend the Contract"

The situation is unique. He has a contract that expires after next season.

Will we see Martin Ellingsen play football for AIK again?

– It was the same story with Taha Ayari. He suffered a fairly serious injury and his contract expired. The only right thing is to extend the contract, help him, and support him. The person who finds it the saddest of all, and the one who is most unfortunate, is Martin himself.

He continues.

– The only thing we can do is support him in every way we can. He should feel that AIK has done everything to help him as much as possible – that's the only thing that matters to me. I hope he will come back in a good way. As long as he is an AIK player, we will stand by him. He has done everything right but has been unlucky to end up in this situation. We fully support him. That's the kind of club AIK is.

Are you in contract negotiations with him?

– No, not that I know of. You have to ask Wisur Hansen about that. I am not aware of it at the moment.