Jacob Ondrejka Joins FC Groningen on Loan

Jacob Ondrejka is on the move again. The Swedish midfielder has joined FC Groningen on loan from Parma, aiming to relaunch a career that once burned brightly in Belgium but has dimmed in Italy.

The 23-year-old is pushing to be ready in time for Groningen’s second Eredivisie match of the season, at home to newly promoted ADO Den Haag on Sunday. If the paperwork and preparation fall into place, he could be thrown straight into the Dutch top flight.

For Ondrejka, the Netherlands is new ground, but the region is not. He already made his name in the Low Countries with Antwerp, just across the border in Belgium, where his form earned him the step up to Serie A.

Early Career

His journey began much further north. Born in Sweden, Ondrejka came through at Landskrona BoIS before moving to Elfsborg in 2020. There, he grew from prospect to key figure: 110 games, 20 goals, consistent minutes, and a reputation as an attacking midfielder with end product.

Move to Antwerp

That output opened the door to Antwerp in the summer of 2023. With the Great Old, he quickly adapted to a higher tempo and bigger expectations. Over a season and a half he played 55 matches, scoring 12 goals and supplying seven assists. By midway through his second campaign, he had seven goals and five assists from 26 games. Those numbers turned heads.

Transfer to Parma

Parma moved. A transfer to Serie A followed, a major leap for a player still in his early twenties.

The first months in Italy hinted at another success story. Ondrejka featured 12 times to finish that season and struck five goals, an encouraging return in a new league. The trajectory looked clear.

Then it stalled.

Last season, opportunities dried up. He played only 17 games for Parma and failed to register a goal or an assist. The sharpness he had shown in Antwerp never quite surfaced. The contract, though, is long-term: Parma have him tied down until 2029, a sign they still see value in him.

Loan to Groningen

That is where Groningen come in. For the Dutch club, this is a calculated bet on a player who has already proved he can influence games in northern Europe. For Ondrejka, it is a chance to reconnect with the version of himself that dominated at Elfsborg and shone at Antwerp.

If he finds that level again in the Eredivisie, this loan could reshape not just Groningen’s season, but his standing back at Parma.