“Benjamin has an eye for goal,” says man who first spotted Nygren

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The Celtic Star

·30. Juni 2025

“Benjamin has an eye for goal,” says man who first spotted Nygren

There’s certainly a bit of a buzz around Benjamin Nygren already amongst the Celtic support…

Celtic’s new signing Benjamin Nygren at Celtic Park. Photo Celtic FC

Celtic have added two players who can improve the first team

He may not have kicked a ball in anger just yet, but there’s a belief Celtic have added two players already to Brendan Rodgers squad who can improve, and simultaneously add depth to the first team squad.

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That group, arguably, doesn’t need an overhaul but needs more options to spread the physical load over the course of a season without diluting the quality Brendan Rodgers can call upon.

Kieran Tierney, Photo Celtic FC

Kieran Tierney is an obvious improvement on the weakest part of the Celtic team, and it looks like Benjamin Nygren could be the attacker who at the very least raises the floor of the Celtic squad but may also turn out to be a first team starter – but where in the team might that be?

Nygren clearly has pedigree

Nygren clearly has pedigree, and alongside his versatility, he also may have a point to prove. And that’s the question – Is there a frustrated No.9 bursting to get out, and will Celtic finally give him the platform he’s been craving?

Gareth Henderby – the man who first spotted Nygren’s talent in Sweden – certainly seems to think so. Speaking to Daily Record, Henderby painted a picture of a player who’s been made to adapt, but whose natural instinct is still to lead the line.

Emil Holm, Anthony Elanga and Benjamin Nygren of Sweden celebrate the 0-1 goal during the International Friendly, Länderspiel, Nationalmannschaft football match between Hungary and Sweden on June 6, 2025 in Budapest. Photo: Joel Marklund

“He likes to play right and come inside on his left”

“I know he’s adapted into quite a versatile forward player,” Henderby said. “He likes to play right and come inside on his left. He’s had a good season. But it was kind of a stop-start the first two years. Getting into his number nine position was difficult. He picked up a few injuries.”

Intriguing comments from Henderby you might say. The modern game demands flexibility, and Nygren’s certainly got that. But you can’t help but feel that deep down, he’s still a striker at heart. A natural finisher forced wide for circumstance rather than conviction, or perhaps Brendan Rodgers sees a false 9 in Nygren, that too would be an interesting tactical development for Celtic.

“Benjamin has an eye for goal, definitely.”

Henderby added: “Benjamin has an eye for goal, definitely. Over a long season playing for a club like Celtic, where there’s a lot of games, he will chip in with goals and assists.”

Benjamin Nygren #10 of Sweden scores the first goal during Hungary vs Sweden Friendly Match at Puskas Arena on June 6, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)

A player with positional intelligence, creative spark, and that killer instinct in front of goal

And that’s exactly what Brendan Rodgers needs right now. A player with positional intelligence, creative spark, and that killer instinct in front of goal.

Celtic will play close to 60 games this season across competitions. So, it’s likely not a case of if Nygren will get his chance through the middle, it’s likely to be when. And when he does, he might just grab that opportunity, one perhaps he thought may have passed him by.

Primed for a bigger stage now, Champions League football

He’s a 23-year-old, already with a taste of some adversity in his career, who’s just had the best two seasons of his career. He’s fully tested now, he seems hungry and sounds ready. A Swedish international, arriving for a modest fee perhaps, but he could also primed for a bigger stage now, Champions League football.

Celtic’s new signing Benjamin Nygren at Celtic Park. Photo Celtic FC

Is there a frustrated No.9 in Benjamin Nygren?

Given the fee you could be forgiven for thinking Nygren is more of a squad-depth signing with advantageous versatility. But it’s a low-risk, high-upside move.

Is there a frustrated No.9 in Benjamin Nygren? Gareth Henderby thinks so – and Celtic may give him the chance to prove it.

Niall J

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