With the transfer window in full swing, Esbjerg fB chief executive Allan L. Agerholm has outlined how the club approaches recruitment, stressing long-term planning over noise and speculation.
According to Agerholm, the real work takes place far from social media and deadline-day hype. EfB’s decisions are built on extended analysis that balances sporting strategy, financial reality, and the club’s local identity, alongside timing, smart negotiations, and caution toward anything that seems too good to be true.
Strategic Recruitment at Esbjerg fB
The club frames every move around direction rather than names. The focus is on the style of football now and in the coming months, the character the team must show in difficult conditions, and whether players can handle the responsibility of representing a historic club in rebuilding. Scouting blends data, video, reports, and conversations to define player profiles. EfB looks for specific traits—such as pressing, movement, willingness to rotate, and potential for development and resale—within a budget, with strategy setting the final choice.
Timing is critical. EfB rarely picks first from the top shelf, so preparation is constant. Alternative shortlists are kept ready, contractual details are reviewed in advance, and relationships with agents and other clubs are maintained year-round. Deals often hinge on details like wage structure, clauses, or a hint of limited commitment.
Discipline includes turning down options that do not fit the plan. That can mean rejecting a veteran seeking guarantees or a loan whose development benefits another club more than EfB. The club prioritizes sticking to a clear plan over quick fixes or high-profile names.
The academy and local roots remain central. EfB will not attempt to buy its way out of every problem. Some of the most important additions come from within, as young players earn trust, minutes, and responsibility. Recruitment should support development, not block it, because a single misfit signing can close the door on emerging talent.
When the window closes, the strategy must make sense beyond league position. The aim is a sustainable squad that can handle setbacks, improve over time, restore pride in the stands, and build a strong culture and clear playing style.
Agerholm’s column was also published in Ugeavisen Esbjerg on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.