Sahlman started his career with Halmstads BK, where he made his debut in 2004 in an away game against Malmö FF as forward rather than his usual position of goalkeeper.

After the club signed Magnus Bahne in 2007, Sahlman demanded to be put on the transfer list as he wanted to play first team football.

He tried out for AGOVV Apeldoorn in the Netherlands but failed to secure a contract,[2] he then went on loan to Trelleborgs FF for the rest of the season.

[4] On 13 July 2008, Tromsø IL confirmed signing him[5] in spite of competition from other teams,[6] and on 14 July this was confirmed by Halmstads BK,[7] he signed a three-year contract starting 1 January 2009 with no compensation fee for Halmstads BK as he transferred under the Bosman ruling.

This has led Tromsø IL's manager Per-Mathias Høgmo to openly speak out in the media and say that Sahlman should be Sweden's first choice goalkeeper.