Credit: Celtic FC/Imago

Chris Smith

Sun 10 August 2025 20:03, UK

Benjamin Nygren put in a statement performance in Celtic’s 2-0 Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen on Sunday.

Benjamin Nygren stuns, 4/10 has shocker - Celtic player ratings v Aberdeen	'Ridiculous' – Celtic fans all say the same thing about Kieran Tierney after Aberdeen display	Aouchiche shows promise, 4/10 flops- Aberdeen player ratings v Celtic

The Sweden international signed from Nordsjaelland for a fee of just £2million (Sky Sports) this summer, but despite the low price, he has a decent reputation after registering 35 goals and six assists during his 107 appearances for the Danish side.

Mirren on the opening weekend.

However, on Sunday, he truly came to life.

Nygren played primarily as a winger during his time with Nordsjaelland, but since joining Celtic, has lined up as a central midfielder in both his appearances.

If Sunday’s evidence was anything to go by, it’s a role he is more than comfortable in.

It was Nygren who put the Hoops 1-0 on 27 minutes, applying a smart finish to Kieran Tierney’s cross.

The 24-year-old pulled the strings from there and, after a sustained period of pressure, provided the assist for Reo Hatate’s clincher in the 64th minute.

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They were just two actions in a stunning performance from Nygren that yielded a whopping seven chances created to the tune of 0.44 xA, three shots, four passes into the final third, three touches in the opposition box and seven crosses (FotMob).

And despite all that, Nygren still had the time to disrupt Aberdeen with three interceptions and three recoveries.

It’s a credit to Nygren that you wouldn’t even know he’d spent most of his career as a winger, had you only watched his Pittodrie masterclass.

The former Genk and Heerenveen man set the tempo in the middle and was a constant thorn in Aberdeen’s side, popping up in all areas of the pitch to score, create and disrupt.



Stats vs AberdeenBenjamin NygrenGoals1Assists1Shots3Chances created7Benjamin Nygren vs Aberdeen

Manager Brendan Rodgers heaped praise upon his new signing after the match, also highlighting the player’s versatility.

“I’m really pleased for Benji [Nygren],” said Rodgers (BBC).

“That’s why we signed him.

And then we’ve done what we’ve done up here a few times.”

It’s already looking ominous for the rest of Scotland, with Celtic taking maximum points from their opening two games and sitting four points clear of Rangers, who have endured two draws.

Hearts sit level on points with them for now, but if Nygren can keep putting in these sorts of performances — and inspire his teammates to do the same — nobody will be able to stop them claiming a record 56th title and overtaking Rangers for the first time since the 1920s.

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