Elliot Stroud admits he’s fulfilled a lifelong dream at the age of 24 to play in the Premier League, after making his debut for Hull City on Saturday against Manchester United.
And it comes during a frenetic period which has seen him catch the eye during this summer’s World Cup, where he played in all four of Sweden’s games, having only made his senior debut back in June for Graham Potter’s charges.
Stroud made his Tigers debut on Saturday, helping the Tigers claim an historic first-ever Premier League win over Manchester United, with him playing 71 minutes, before being replaced by Liam Millar.
The left-sided player’s move to England took a while to come to pass, with him playing for Mjallby AIF in a bid to help their European qualification, but he says the opportunity to play in the Premier League was one he was not going to pass up.
“When I heard that Hull City were interested, it was something that just felt right in the gut,” the Swedish star says. “I had nothing to worry about. I spoke to some people, and everything felt great, and as a great club, it felt like a good move for me personally.
“It was a dream of mine to play in the Premier League, and I realised it is a huge step to take from the Allsvenskan (Swedish top flight) to the Premier League, but once the opportunity got here, I felt like it was something I wanted to take on and wanted to try, and it’s not something I regret in the slightest.”
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It’s been a whirlwind few months for Stroud, after going to the World Cup and then getting a big move to the Premier League, but such has been the speed of his rise, he admits it’ll take a while before he has a chance to reflect on the upward trajectory of his career.
“Yeah, for sure, but I don’t think maybe in a couple of months, maybe it will be in a couple of years,” he joked. “Everything’s been moving so fast for me this year and these past months as well, so I’m still in the moment, and I think I haven’t fully realised yet what I’ve done so far.”
Few players get the chance to play in the World Cup, but that was something Stroud achieved when he came off the bench in the 5-1 win over Tunisia in Guadalajara, going on to play in each of his country’s games, including a start in the Round of 32 defeat to France.
“It was top,” he said of his World Cup adventure. “It was a really good experience, and to come in as I did and to play as much as I did, the gaffer (Graham Potter) believed in me so much; it was really great and something that I am very proud of.”
Though Stroud didn’t speak with Sweden boss Graham Potter before his move to England, he has since had a conversation with the former Brighton and Chelsea chief about joining the Tigers.
“I didn’t actually speak to him (Potter) before, but he spoke to me afterwards and congratulated me on the move, so that was very, very nice of him.”
City will be underdogs throughout the season, but that’s not something that concerns Stroud, who’s already settling in and on the hunt for somewhere to leave, so he can wave goodbye to the hotel and really make himself feel at home in East Yorkshire.
“I think that’s the case, in most clubs I’ve been in. We’ve always been the underdogs, and we’ve succeeded, where I was, so hopefully we can do the same here as well and prove everyone wrong.
“Everyone’s been super welcome, Oli (McBurnie) and Lewie (Coyle), of course. Everyone on and off the pitch has given me a super warm welcome, and I’m really glad to be here.”
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