1. Early Career
Niclas Ekberg began his handball journey with IFK Ystad. During the 2008-2009 season, he distinguished himself by scoring the second-highest number of goals in the Swedish league, earning him the prestigious "Årets Komet" (Swedish Handball Comet of the Year) award. Following this breakthrough season, Ekberg transferred to city rivals Ystads IF. With Ystads IF, he gained his first taste of European club competition, participating in the EHF Challenge Cup during the 2009-2010 season.
2. Club Career
Ekberg's club career spans across Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, where he achieved significant success, particularly during his long and record-breaking spell with THW Kiel.
2.1. Swedish and Danish Clubs
After his early years with IFK Ystad and Ystads IF, Ekberg moved to Denmark in the summer of 2010 to join AG København. His time with the Danish club was highly successful, as he contributed to the team winning back-to-back Danish league and Danish cup doubles in 2011 and 2012. However, his contract with AG København was terminated in July 2012 when the club faced insolvency.
2.2. THW Kiel
Following the dissolution of AG København, Ekberg signed with German club THW Kiel on a contract initially set to run until 2015, which was later extended in 2014 until 2018. His twelve-year period at THW Kiel, from 2012 to 2024, proved to be the most decorated phase of his club career. With Kiel, he secured numerous domestic titles, including the DHB-Pokal in 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2022, and multiple German Championships in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2023. He also won the DHB-Supercup in 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Ekberg's most significant international club achievement came in the 2019-20 EHF Champions League, where he played a pivotal role in THW Kiel's victory. He was the tournament's top scorer with 85 goals overall, including an impressive 15 goals at the Final Four event.
Throughout his time at Kiel, Ekberg consistently broke goalscoring records. In the 2019-2020 season, he surpassed the milestone of 1000 goals in the Bundesliga and replaced Nikolaj Jacobsen as the record holder for most club penalty goals, reaching 390. In the 2020-2021 season, he became the fourth-highest scoring player for THW Kiel by overtaking Uwe Schwenker with 1224 goals. He also reached the significant milestone of 2000 goals in all competitions for the club. In the 2021-2022 season, he continued his ascent in the club's all-time scoring charts, first surpassing his coach Filip Jicha (1319 goals) to claim second place in the club's all-time league top scorer list. In the very next game, he scored eleven goals against GWD Minden, surpassing Magnus Wislander's record of 1332 league goals to become THW Kiel's all-time league top scorer. In November 2024, during a Champions League match against Aalborg Håndbold, he further solidified his legacy by becoming the club's all-time top scorer across all competitions, with 2125 goals, of which 1776 were scored in league matches.
2.2.1. Bundesliga Statistics
The table below details Niclas Ekberg's performance in the German Handball-Bundesliga during his tenure with THW Kiel.
| Season | Team | League | Games | Goals | Pen. | Non-pen. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012/13 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 31 | 94 | 36 | 58 |
| 2013/14 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 34 | 98 | 19 | 79 |
| 2014/15 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 36 | 103 | 5 | 98 |
| 2015/16 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 30 | 140 | 38 | 102 |
| 2016/17 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 31 | 137 | 41 | 96 |
| 2017/18 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 34 | 171 | 84 | 87 |
| 2018/19 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 33 | 187 | 89 | 98 |
| 2019/20 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 26 | 164 | 104 | 60 |
| 2020/21 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 33 | 205 | 98 | 107 |
| 2021/22 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 34 | 189 | 99 | 90 |
| 2022/23 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 32 | 137 | 73 | 64 |
| 2023/24 | THW Kiel | Bundesliga | 34 | 151 | 62 | 89 |
| 2012-2024 | Total | Bundesliga | 388 | 1776 | 748 | 1028 |
2.3. Return to Ystads IF
In 2023, after a highly successful twelve-year period with THW Kiel, Ekberg announced his return to his home country, signing a three-year deal with Ystads IF. This move marked his return to the Swedish Handbollsligan and the club where he had previously played early in his career.
3. International Career
Niclas Ekberg has had a distinguished international career representing the Swedish national handball team across various age levels and in major tournaments, including the Olympics and European and World Championships.
3.1. Youth and Senior Debut
Ekberg represented Sweden at the youth level, playing 18 matches for the Swedish U-19 team and 29 matches for the Swedish U-21 team. His debut for the senior national team came on 2 November 2008, in a match against Turkey.
3.2. Major Tournaments
Ekberg was a key member of the Swedish team that achieved significant success in major international competitions. He was part of the squad that won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he was also the tournament's top scorer with 50 goals. He also represented Sweden at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
In 2022, Ekberg played a crucial role in Sweden's triumph at the 2022 European Men's Handball Championship. Although he missed much of the tournament due to a positive COVID-19 test, he made a dramatic return in the final against Spain. With the score tied at 26:26, Sweden earned a penalty after regulation time. Ekberg stepped up and successfully converted the penalty against Spanish goalkeeper Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, securing the gold medal for Sweden. At the 2023 World Men's Handball Championship, he helped the Swedish team finish in fourth place and was selected for the tournament's All-Star team as the right wing.
3.3. Captaincy and National Team Status
From 2017 to 2019, Niclas Ekberg served as the captain of the Swedish national team. He stepped down from this responsibility when he took a temporary break from the national team due to familial reasons in 2019. In October 2023, he officially announced his retirement from the national team. However, he briefly unretired to participate in the 2025 World Men's Handball Championship. This tournament proved disappointing for Sweden, as they finished fourteenth after losses to Brazil and Norway and a draw against Portugal.
4. Records and Achievements
Niclas Ekberg's career is highlighted by numerous personal scoring records, team titles, and individual accolades, cementing his status as one of Sweden's most accomplished handball players.
4.1. Club Records
- Most club penalty goals for THW Kiel (390 goals in 2019-2020 season).
- Reached 1000 Bundesliga goals for THW Kiel (2019-2020 season).
- Fourth most scoring player for THW Kiel, surpassing Uwe Schwenker (1224 goals in 2020-2021 season).
- Reached 2000 goals in all competitions for THW Kiel (2020-2021 season).
- Second all-time league top scorer for THW Kiel, surpassing Filip Jicha (1319 goals in 2021-2022 season).
- All-time league top scorer for THW Kiel, surpassing Magnus Wislander (1332 goals in 2021-2022 season).
- All-time club top scorer for THW Kiel in all competitions (2125 goals, including 1776 league goals, as of November 2024).
4.2. National Team Records
- Total appearances for the Swedish national team: 210 matches.
- Total goals scored for the Swedish national team: 841 goals.
4.3. Team Titles
- German Bundesliga: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2023 (with THW Kiel)
- DHB-Supercup: 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (with THW Kiel)
- DHB-Pokal: 2013, 2017, 2019, 2022 (with THW Kiel)
- Danish League: 2011, 2012 (with AG København)
- Danish Cup: 2011, 2012 (with AG København)
- EHF Cup: 2019 (with THW Kiel)
- EHF Champions League: 2020 (with THW Kiel)
- European Champion: 2022 (with Sweden)
- Olympics Silver Medal: 2012 (with Sweden)
4.4. Individual Awards
- "Årets Komet" (Swedish Handball Comet of the Year): 2008-2009
- 2012 Summer Olympics Top Scorer
- Swedish Handballer of the Year: 2014-2015
- 2019-20 EHF Champions League Top Scorer
- All-Star Right Wing of the 2023 World Men's Handball Championship
5. Playing Style and Recognition
Niclas Ekberg is widely recognized for his exceptional ability as a prolific goalscorer. Playing primarily as a right wing, he has demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout his career, particularly during his long tenure with THW Kiel where he became the club's all-time league top scorer. His effectiveness from the wing position, combined with his proficiency in converting penalty shots, has made him a reliable and high-impact player for both his clubs and the Swedish national team. His numerous goalscoring records underscore his offensive prowess and his significant contribution to the sport.
6. Personal Life and Career Breaks
In 2019, Niclas Ekberg took a temporary break from the Swedish national team due to familial reasons. This decision led to him stepping down from his role as captain of the national team at that time.
7. Assessment and Impact
Niclas Ekberg's career stands as a testament to his enduring talent and dedication in the world of handball. His extensive list of club and international titles, coupled with numerous individual scoring records, firmly establishes him as one of the most decorated and influential Swedish handball players of his generation. His prolific goalscoring ability, particularly his record-breaking achievements with THW Kiel, has left an indelible mark on German handball history. Internationally, his contributions to the Swedish national team, including an Olympic silver medal and a European Championship gold, highlight his significance on the global stage. Ekberg's consistent performance as a right wing and his ability to deliver in crucial moments have earned him widespread recognition and respect within the sport.