Michael Essien’s key role in Celtic signing Benjamin Nygren

The 23-year-old Swedish forward has signed a five-year contract after making the move from Danish club FC Nordsjaelland, with the transfer fee reported to be around £1.5 million.

Nygren’s stint at Genk as a teenager may not have sparked the breakthrough to a top European club he wanted, but he remained patient, and now the Celtic boss believes he has shown growth since then and brings the qualities needed to succeed with the Scottish champions.

Speaking to Celtic TV 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.”

The Celtic boss revealed that he reached out to a trusted contact at Nygren’s old club – ex-Chelsea and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, now part of Nordsjaelland’s coaching team – for his perspective.

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

“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.”

Essien’s recommendation further reinforced Rodgers’ confidence in the deal, though it is Nygren’s individual qualities that the manager feels can enhance Celtic’s attacking options in the coming 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,” Rodgers explained. “He’s got real good physicality as well. So I’m really looking forward to seeing him adapt to how we play.”

Meanwhile, the Irishman added that, in his experience, footballers from Northern Europe usually adapt well to the Scottish game, pointing to previous examples as evidence.

Rodgers said: 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.”

Conor Spence

Remember – no paywall and content that is 100% written by actual Celtic supporters – that’s what you get on The Celtic Star. And our books are also written by Celtic supporters.

Order both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties by and save a tenner! Link below…

Summer sale now on! £5 off all books at Celticstarbooks.com/shop