Benjamin Nygren Officially Signed

Obviously time will tell but this looks like a good first main signing for the summer.

 

Brendan during his Celtic tv interview today


I spoke to Michael Essien who spoke very highly of Benjamin



top praise from a big player

 

Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic have secured a versatile and mature attacking talent in Benjamin Nygren.


The 23-year-old Swedish international attacker has joined on a five-year deal from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, for a fee in the region of just £1.5m.

While Nygren’s early move to Genk as a teenager didn’t quite ignite his career, Rodgers sees a player who has rebounded impressively and arrives in Glasgow with the right profile to make an impact.

Speaking to club media on Tuesday, Rodgers said, "I mentioned previously we always want to improve our attacking output in the team.

"Benjamin's a guy who has really grown and developed from being a really talented young player. He made a move early in his career, it didn’t quite work out, but has come back and obviously at Nordsjaelland has been doing really, really well.


Essien helped convince Rodgers on Nygren
Rodgers revealed he sought insight from a familiar voice inside Nygren’s former club — former Chelsea and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, who is on the coaching staff at Nordsjaelland.


I was in contact with a friend of mine there who was a top midfield player, Michael Essien,” Rodgers explained. “Michael works there and he spoke really, really highly of Benjamin.”

Essien’s endorsement only strengthened Rodgers’ conviction in the signing. But it’s the player’s own attributes that the manager believes can sharpen the champions’ forward play next season.

“I know, having spoken to him and seen him play, he’s a leader on the pitch and he produces in terms of the goals he scores, what he creates. He’s got real good physicality as well. So I’m really looking forward to seeing him adapt to how we play.”

Rodgers looking forward to attacking flexibility
Nygren’s positional flexibility is another asset. While naturally a creative forward, he’s been deployed centrally and wide, as well as in deeper roles, and Rodgers is clear about the expectation.

“He’ll add to our attacking game,” Rodgers said. “He’s flexible in where he can play. He’s played a lot as a number eight, has also functioned as a wide player, but ultimately, we brought him here to help us score more goals.”

Rodgers also believes players from Northern Europe tend to settle quickly in Scottish football, citing past examples.

“I think that those guys right up there in Northern Europe, they’ve come here and settled very well. If you think of Stefan Johansen as well… whether it’s Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, they cope very well. There’s not too much change in terms of climate and everything else, and they’re really humble people who want to do well.”

As Celtic prepare for a season that will include a return to the Champions League, Rodgers sees Nygren as a key part of evolving the squad’s attacking identity. The responsibility to deliver will come quickly.

 

He said: “I’m really excited by him (Nygren), he's a forward thinking player, he’s got good legs, gets about the pitch and he's showed up well since he's come in.

 

Good legs? Needs a bit of meat on those scotches..

 

Where does this guy actually play? Favoured position I mean. Lot of clips I've seen coming in from the left but can't see him being signed as a LW if we're after the Belgian lad and also have Jota albeit he's out for a while

 

His interview suggested as an 8 or 10. Described himself as a box crasher. Seems to be an offensively minded central midfield player in his own eyes anyway.