Swedish-born defender Leon Hien, who hails from a Ghanaian and Burkinabé heritage, has completed a notable transfer to Djurgården IF, signing a four-year deal that ties him to the club until 2029. The move sees the 24-year-old centre-back depart Degerfors IF after a breakout season that firmly placed him on the radar of several top-flight Swedish teams.
Hien, once a promising talent in the Hammarby youth setup, rose to prominence during the 2025 Allsvenskan campaign, where his commanding defensive presence, athleticism, and leadership played a key role in Degerfors’ battle for top-tier survival. His performances convinced Djurgården’s hierarchy that he was the ideal reinforcement for their long-term defensive project.
In announcing their new acquisition, Djurgården highlighted both the quality and the sentimental value behind the signing, especially given the legacy of his older brother, Sweden international Isak Hien, who remains a beloved figure among DIF supporters.
“Djurgården boosts the defense when the 24-year-old center back with the familiar surname now joins from Degerfors… A fast, physical and driven center back with both poise and a familiar surname,” the club stated, celebrating the arrival of their first major signing ahead of the upcoming season.
Shortly after inking his contract, Hien expressed his excitement and deep personal connection to the Stockholm giants.
“It feels wonderful to sign for Djurgården, one of the biggest clubs in the country. I’m a Stockholm guy at heart too, so that makes it extra big, and I’m proud of myself… It was a given for me from the moment Bosse (Andersson) contacted me,” he said.
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He also revealed how valuable his conversations with his elder brother Isak were during the decision-making process:
“We have talked a lot about it… it will be even easier when Isak has been here before and knows Djurgården well… There were a few DIF matches as a child when I went to watch with my dad and my brothers, so it is part of my childhood.”
For Djurgården’s sporting director Bosse Andersson, the signing represents both a footballing and emotional win for the club:
“We are very happy that Leon has chosen to come to Djurgården… Leon has signed a four-year contract and is an important long-term building block… it is also extra fun that he is a Stockholm guy who knows the club well and went to DIF matches as a child.”
He further praised Hien’s rapid rise and decisive contributions during Degerfors’ season:
“Leon has had an impressive autumn… with his strong defensive performances and fine leadership qualities… He is skilled with his feet and strong in the main game… a very good Allsvenskan football player who, given his age, will have many good years ahead of him.”
🤝 Djurgården förstärker defensiven när den 24-årige mittbacken Leon Hien med det välbekanta efternamnet nu ansluter från Degerfors
– Det känns underbart att skriva på för Djurgården, en av de största föreningarna i landet. Jag är ju en Stockholmskille i grunden också, så det… pic.twitter.com/1GU3WZFyWl
— Djurgården Fotboll (@DIF_Fotboll) December 6, 2025
Hien wrapped up the 2025 season with 26 appearances, two goals, and one assist, a résumé that underlines both his consistency and threat in both defensive and attacking phases.
Despite being born in Sweden, Hien remains eligible to represent Ghana at the senior level, unlike his brother Isak, who is already cap-tied to Sweden. With his stock rising and a move to one of Sweden’s biggest clubs now confirmed, the door to potential Black Stars involvement may grow wider in the coming years.
