Jacob Ondrejka Joins FC Groningen on Loan

Jacob Ondrejka is on the move again. FC Groningen have brought in the Swedish midfielder on loan from Parma, a timely boost as they prepare for their second Eredivisie fixture of the season against newly promoted ADO Den Haag on Sunday.

Groningen are pushing to have the 23-year-old registered and ready in time for that game. If the paperwork clears, he could go straight into the squad.

For Ondrejka, the Netherlands is new ground, but the region is not. He has already shown his qualities in the Low Countries with Antwerp, where his attacking edge and energy from midfield made him a key figure.

Career Journey

His journey started at home. Raised in Sweden, Ondrejka came through at Landskorna BoIS before making the jump to Elfsborg in 2020. That move unlocked his career: 110 appearances, 20 goals, and a reputation as a midfielder who could both create and finish.

Antwerp came calling in the summer of 2023. There, in Belgium, he took another step. Across a season and a half with the Great Old, he featured 55 times, scoring 12 goals and supplying seven assists. By the midway point of his second campaign, his numbers – seven goals and five assists in 26 matches – were strong enough to convince Parma to take him to Serie A.

The transition to Italy started well. In the run-in to that first season, Ondrejka played 12 games for Parma and found the net five times, an impressive return for a newcomer adjusting to a new league and tempo.

Then came the stall.

Last season, he managed 17 appearances for Parma but could not add a single goal or assist. The minutes were there in patches, the end product was not. For a player whose value lies in making things happen in the final third, that dry spell mattered.

Parma still believe in him. His contract runs until 2029, a clear sign they see a long-term asset rather than a short-term gamble. But they also know he needs rhythm, responsibility and a stage where he can attack games again.

That is where Groningen step in. The Dutch side offer him regular football in a league that has often suited technically sharp, forward-thinking midfielders. For Ondrejka, it is a chance to reconnect with the form that lit up his Antwerp spell.

If he finds that spark again in Groningen green, this loan will not just revive a season. It could reshape the next phase of his career.