# Melker Ellborg > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Melker_Ellborg > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Melker_Ellborg.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melker_Ellborg > Source revision: 1357337267 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Swedish association football player}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Melker Ellborg | fullname = Melker Åke Ellborg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|05|22|df=yes}} | birth_place = [Kalmar](/source/Kalmar), Sweden | death_date = | death_place = | height = 1,91m | position = [Goalkeeper](/source/Goalkeeper_(association_football)) | currentclub = [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.) | clubnumber = 31 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2017 | youthclubs1 = [IFK Berga](/source/IFK_Berga) | youthyears2 = 2019–2020 | youthclubs2 = [Malmö FF](/source/Malm%C3%B6_FF) | years1 = 2017–2019 | clubs1 = [IFK Berga](/source/IFK_Berga) | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2021–2025 | clubs2 = [Malmö FF](/source/Malm%C3%B6_FF) | caps2 = 7 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2022 | clubs3 = → [IFK Malmö](/source/IFK_Malm%C3%B6_Fotboll) (loan) | caps3 = 14 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2023 | clubs4 = → Ariana FC (loan) | caps4 = 12 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2024 | clubs5 = → [Trelleborgs FF](/source/Trelleborgs_FF) (loan) | caps5 = 4 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2026– | clubs6 = [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.) | caps6 = 3 | goals6 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2018–2019 | nationalteam1 = [Sweden U17](/source/Sweden_men's_national_under-17_football_team) | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2021–2023 | nationalteam2 = [Sweden U19](/source/Sweden_men's_national_under-19_football_team) | nationalcaps2 = 7 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | club-update = 23:50, 22 March 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 26 March 2022 }} '''Melker Åke Ellborg''' (born 22 May 2003) is a Swedish professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who plays as a [goalkeeper](/source/Goalkeeper_(association_football)) for [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) club [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.). == Club career == === Malmö FF === Ellborg began training with [IFK Berga](/source/IFK_Berga)'s senior team when he was 12.{{Cite web|date=25 May 2025|author=Johan Dolck Wall|title=Melker Ellborg hade Henrik Rydström på väggen i pojkrummet |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/melker-ellborg-hade-henrik-rydstrom-pa-vaggen-i-pojkrummet/| access-date=11 January 2026|website=[Expressen](/source/Expressen)|trans-title=Melker Ellborg had Henrik Rydström on wall in boyhood bedroom|language=sv-SE}} He notably made his senior debut at age 13, playing 20 minutes of a friendly game vs. Älmeboda/Linnaryd. He trialed as a teen with [Juventus](/source/Juventus), but ahead of the 2019 season he chose to sign for [Malmö FF](/source/Malm%C3%B6_FF).{{Cite web|date=26 June 2021|author=Ole Törner|title=Ellborg är Kalmar-killen som hamnade i favoritlaget MFF |url=https://gasetten.se/malmo-ff/ellborg-ar-kalmar-killen-som-hamnade-i-favoritlaget-mff/| access-date=11 January 2026|website=Gasetten|trans-title=Ellborg is the Kalmar-guy who ended up in favorite team MFF|language=sv-SE}} He spent two years in the club’s academy before being promoted to the first team prior to the 2021 season.{{Cite web|date=8 December 2020|author=David Winberg|title=Bergaprodukten skriver a-kontrakt med mästarklubben |url=https://www.barometern.se/sport/bergaprodukten-skriver-a-kontrakt-med-mastarklubben/| access-date=11 January 2026|website=[Barometern](/source/Barometern)|trans-title=Berga-product signs first team-contract with the champion club|language=sv-SE}} For three successive years, Ellborg was loaned out to three different [Scanian](/source/Scania) clubs, [IFK Malmö](/source/IFK_Malm%C3%B6_Fotboll), Ariana FC, and [Trelleborgs FF](/source/Trelleborgs_FF). In February 2025, acting on the advice of new goalkeeping coach [Zlatan Azinović](/source/Zlatan_Azinovi%C4%87), previously the U19 goalkeeping coach, the club extended his contract by 4 years and chose to keep hold of Ellborg as a back-up keeper.{{Cite web|date=18 February 2025|author=Alexander Stenfelt|title=Officiellt: Malmö FF förlänger med Melker Ellborg |url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/artiklar/allsvenskan/officiellt-malmo-ff-forlanger-med-melker-ellborg| access-date=11 January 2026|website=Fotbollskanalen|trans-title=Official: Malmö FF extends with Melker Ellborg|language=sv-SE}} Because of [Johan Dahlin](/source/Johan_Dahlin)'s [ACL injury](/source/Anterior_cruciate_ligament_injury) and Brazilian goalkeeper [Ricardo Friedrich](/source/Ricardo_Friedrich) dwindling form, Ellborg was given a chance to play and made his [Malmö FF](/source/Malm%C3%B6_FF) debut on 18 May 2025, keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 win against [Halmstads BK](/source/Halmstads_BK).{{Cite web|date=18 May 2025|author=Johan Flinck & Jonatan Pinheiro Diamant|title=Ellborg höll nollan i debuten |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/73vPLv/malmo-vann-klart-mot-halmstad-melker-ellborg-holl-nollan-i-debuten| access-date=11 January 2026|website=[Sportbladet](/source/Sportbladet)|trans-title=Ellborg kept a clean sheet in debut|language=sv-SE}} With Sweden international [Robin Olsen](/source/Robin_Olsen)'s arrival in the summer of 2025, Ellborg saw his playing time diminish. He ended the season with 5 clean sheets in 7 [Allsvenskan](/source/Allsvenskan) games, and was heavily praised for his [Europa League](/source/2025%E2%80%9326_UEFA_Europa_League) campaign.{{Cite web|date=28 November 2025|author=Ludwig Billengren|title=Melker Ellborg hyllas: "Fantastisk" |url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/artiklar/europa-league/melker-ellborg-hyllas-fantastisk| access-date=11 January 2026|website=Fotbollskanalen|trans-title=Melker Ellborg praised: "fantastic"|language=sv-SE}} As a result of his strong performances despite not being a nailed on starter, at the end of 2025 [Manchester United](/source/Manchester_United) reportedly held an interest in signing Ellborg.{{Cite web|date=12 November 2025|author=Anel Avdic|title=Malmö FF-talangen på storklubbens lista |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/malmo-ff-talangen-pa-storklubbens-lista/| access-date=11 January 2026|website=[Expressen](/source/Expressen)|trans-title=Malmö FF-talent on the big club's list|language=sv-SE}}{{Cite web|date=14 November 2025|title=Gossip: Man Utd consider Adeyemi move |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cew4rwlpg4ko|access-date=11 January 2026|website=[BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport)}} === Sunderland === On 31 January 2026, Ellborg was sold to [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.).{{Cite web|date=31 January 2026|author=Benjamin Hanafi|title=Uppgifter: MFF säljer Ellborg till Sunderland - Allsvenskan - Fotbollskanalen|url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/artiklar/allsvenskan/uppgifter-mff-saljer-ellborg-till-sunderland|website=Fotbollskanalen|access-date=31 January 2026|trans-title=Details: MFF sell Ellborg to Sunderland|language=sv}} The transfer sum reportedly landed on a record-breaking 42 million [SEK](/source/Swedish_krona) plus additional bonuses, or just under 4 million Euro. The transfer became the most expensive goalkeeper transfer in [Allsvenskan](/source/Allsvenskan) history, breaking the previous record of [Hákon Valdimarsson](/source/H%C3%A1kon_Valdimarsson)'s move to [Brentford](/source/Brentford_F.C.) for 40 million SEK.{{Cite web|date=1 February 2026|author=Ludwig Billengren|title=Officiellt: Malmö FF säljer Ellborg|url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/artiklar/allsvenskan/officiellt-malmo-ff-saljer-ellborg|website=Fotbollskanalen|access-date=2 February 2026|trans-title=Official: Malmö FF sell Ellborg|language=sv}} Ellborg made his first appearance for [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.) in a Premier League match against [Leeds](/source/Leeds_United_F.C.) on 3 March 2026, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win. He made his debut in an [Emirates FA Cup](/source/FA_Cup) fifth round game at [Port Vale](/source/Port_Vale_F.C.) on 8 March 2026 which Sunderland lost 1–0.{{Cite news |last=Lansley |first=Peter |date=2026-03-08 |title=Port Vale stun Sunderland to reach first FA Cup quarter-final in 72 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/08/port-vale-sunderland-fa-cup-match-report |access-date=2026-03-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} == International career == Ellborg is a youth international for Sweden.{{Cite web|title=Melker Ellborg|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/melker-ellborg/9a0a0af7-29bb-4812-b29c-a022c585d40d/|access-date=11 January 2026|website=Svenskfotboll|language=sv-SE}} == Style of play == His longtime goalkeeping coach [Zlatan Azinović](/source/Zlatan_Azinovi%C4%87) has described Ellborg as having an "exceptional gripping technique". {{Cite web|date=22 May 2025|author=Jonas Hansson Lilja|title=När Azinovic hörde om 13-åriga Ellborg i Division 2: ”Exceptionell greppteknik”|url=https://gasetten.se/malmo-ff/nar-azinovic-horde-om-13-ariga-ellborg-i-division-2-exceptionell-greppteknik/| access-date=11 January 2026|website=Gasetten|trans-title=When Azinovic heard of 13-year old Ellborg in Division 2: “Exceptional gripping technique”|language=sv-SE}} == Personal life == Although he was born and raised in [Kalmar](/source/Kalmar), already as a child Ellborg supported [Malmö FF](/source/Malm%C3%B6_FF) due to the influence of his best friend. Ellborg’s paternal grandfather's brother, Folke Ellborg, was chairman of [Kalmar FF](/source/Kalmar_FF) between 1972–1976 and then 1989–1993.{{Cite web|date=25 May 2025|author=Fredrik Palmqvist|title=Målvaktstalangen: ”Mer teaterapor i vår familj” |url=https://www.sydsvenskan.se/sport/malvaktstalangen-mer-teaterapor-i-var-familj/| access-date=11 January 2026|website=[Sydsvenskan](/source/Sydsvenskan)|trans-title=Goalkeeping talent: “More theater monkeys in our family|language=sv-SE}} == Career statistics == {{updated|match played 22 March 2026}}{{SvFF player|id=9a0a0af7-29bb-4812-b29c-a022c585d40d}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [Svenska Cupen](/source/Svenska_Cupen), [FA Cup](/source/FA_Cup)}} !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|[Malmö FF](/source/Malm%C3%B6_FF) |[2020](/source/2020_Allsvenskan) |[Allsvenskan](/source/Allsvenskan) |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |[2021](/source/2021_Allsvenskan) |Allsvenskan |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |[2022](/source/2022_Allsvenskan) |Allsvenskan |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |[2023](/source/2023_Allsvenskan) |Allsvenskan |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |[2025](/source/2025_Allsvenskan) |Allsvenskan |7||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|Two appearances in [UEFA Champions League](/source/UEFA_Champions_League), five appearances in [UEFA Europa League](/source/UEFA_Europa_League)}}||0||colspan="2"|—||17||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !7!!0!!3!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!7!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!17!!0 |- |[IFK Malmö](/source/IFK_Malm%C3%B6_Fotboll) (loan) |2022 |[Ettan](/source/Ettan_Fotboll) |14||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||0 |- |Ariana FC (loan) |2023 |Ettan |12||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0 |- |[Trelleborgs FF](/source/Trelleborgs_FF) (loan) |[2024](/source/2024_Superettan) |[Superettan](/source/Superettan) |3||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- |[Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.) |[2025–26](/source/2025%E2%80%9326_Sunderland_A.F.C._season) |[Premier League](/source/Premier_League) |3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !39||0||6||0||0||0||7||0||0||0||52||0 |} == Notes == {{notelist}} == References == {{reflist}} == External links == *{{WorldFootball.net|ellborg-melker}} *{{SvFF player|id=9a0a0af7-29bb-4812-b29c-a022c585d40d}} {{Sunderland A.F.C. squad}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ellborg, Melker}} Category:2003 births Category:Living people Category:Swedish men's footballers Category:Sweden men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:IFK Berga players Category:Malmö FF players Category:IFK Malmö Fotboll players Category:Trelleborgs FF players Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players Category:Ettan Fotboll players Category:Superettan players Category:Allsvenskan players Category:Premier League players --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melker Ellborg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melker_Ellborg) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melker_Ellborg?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.