“Celtic have done really well to sign Nygren,” Marc Rieper

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·22 juin 2025

“Celtic have done really well to sign Nygren,” Marc Rieper

Marc Rieper won the league title – the one that stopped the 10 – and a League Cup with Celtic. He was also one of the best central defenders I have ever seen in a Celtic shirt…

30/11/97 LEAGUE CUP FINAL CELTIC V DUNDEE UTD (3-0) IBROX – Celtic’s Marc Rieper (left), Henrik Larsson and Craig Burley celebrate winning the League Cup after a 3-0 win over Dundee Utd.

Unfortunately, he was a player plagued by a persistent toe injury, after signing for Celtic from West Ham, otherwise I’m certain Celtic and Rieper may well have got their hands on even more silverware during his time with the club.

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Rieper was also a Danish international, winning 61 caps for his country. As such, his opinion on a Celtic signing is certainly one worth paying attention to.

Benjamin Nygren of Sweden in reaction during the friendly match between Hungary and Sweden at Puskas Arena on June 6, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)

And Marc has done just that, running the rule over Benjamin Nygren, the Swedish international attacker Celtic have been linked with over the last couple of weeks, a move transfer expert Fabrizio Romano proclaimed as a done deal late last night, and one who has been plying his trade for Nordsjaelland in Rieper’s homeland, Denmark.

It would appear the former Celt rates the 23-year-old wide man highly and that’s certainly reassuring ahead of the young attacker joining up with Celtic ahead of the start of pre-season training.

Italy’s Emmanuel Gyabuaa (right) and Sweden’s Benjamin Nygren battle for the ball during the UEFA European Under-17 Championship match between Italy and Sweden at the New York Stadium on May 13, 2018 in Rotherham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

“This is a really good signing for Celtic. Nygren was one of the top players in Denmark last season. A really exciting player,” Rieper said, as reported by Daily Record. “Nordsjaelland are unbelievable at developing players. They do it every year. They sell two or three every year for big money, £10million-plus. Then they just produce new stars at 17 or 18-year-old.

“They are probably the best in Europe at developing. They bought Nygren when he was an under 21 for Sweden but not really with a big reputation. They just nursed him and made him what he is now. They are really skilful at doing that. Now he is a full international with his country and doing well for them as well.

“I think Celtic have done really well to sign Nygren. I have actually been a bit surprised that Nordsjaelland have been able to keep him for so long. His contract was close to running out so they couldn’t wait and let him lose for free.

“They opted to keep him last season when there was some interest and try to get in the top six. They managed that. Now it’s time for him to move on.”

“Nygren was in the top seven or eight goalscorers in the Danish league last season. He has a good technique from distance. As a winger he goes past people because he has pace. He has good skills with the ball and is really neat passer, good at making connections with other players. He’s an exciting player. I think the Celtic fans will really like him.”

Samuele Ricci of Italy U21 in action against Benjamin Nygren of Sweden U21 during the UEFA Euro Under 21 Qualifier match between Italy U21 and Sweden U21 at Arena Garibaldi on November 18, 2020 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Celtic deserve a lot of credit for getting this deal across the line. For a player who has now broken into the Swedish national team and grabbed a couple of goals at international level to boot, it is a coup for Celtic to get the player at just the right time.

Nordsjaelland have made in impressive habit of selling players for significant sums and reinvesting it into their team. As such for Celtic to pick the player up for around £1.2m before any add-ons, is a smart bit of business by the Celtic recruitment team and those negotiating the sale.

Benjamin Nygren of the Swedish national team at a training session on June 8, 2025 in Stockholm. Photo: Maxim ThorÃ

And with a seal of approval from a top player in his day, and one who will have watched Nygren at close quarters, all the signs so far point to Celtic picking up a talented player, still due to hit his peak years and for a bargain basement price.

Niall J

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