Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren spoke to Sky Sports ahead of the Hoops’ season kicking off this weekend against St Mirren at Paradise…

Sporting CP v Celtic – Pre-Season Friendly Benjamin Nygren of Celtic FC is in action during the pre-season friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images

Q: You’re still a young player but you have got so much experience at home in Sweden, but also in Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium. How much will that hold you in good stead for coming to Scotland?

Benjamin Nygren: “No, I think it’s a very good thing. Even though I am young, I have had a lot of experience. I have been a professional now for seven years or so, I have learned a lot during my years.”

Sporting de Lisboa v Celtic FC – Pre-Season Friendly Benjamin Nygren of Celtic FC runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo: DAX Images

Q: So, what will the Celtic fans expect from you then, what will you bring to this squad and team?

Benjamin Nygren: “I am a player that wants to go forward and create chances, and I also run a lot and work a lot offensively and defensively.”

Q: What has the manager said in terms of expectations for you and the team this season?

Benjamin Nygren: “Just to do what I am good at and fit into the playing style of the team. I think it has been very good and very easy to settle in. It’s a great group of guys, everyone here is great both all of the players and all of the staff, it is amazing, so it’s been very good to settle in.”

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic Ajax v Celtic, Como Cup Pre Season Football, Football, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy – 24 Jul 2025Como Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia Italy. Photo Shutterstock IMAGO

Q: There are a lot of big games in the league coming up but also a Champions League playoff too, how big is that for you to hopefully see Celtic play in the Champions League?

Benjamin Nygren: “No, for me it is huge. It is one of my biggest dreams. My biggest dream is to play at the World Cup, but the second one is to play in the Champions League. So, for me it is huge, and the team will do everything to get there.”

Q: I was going to ask about the World Cup, you scored against Northern Ireland this year, you have played for Sweden, is that something now that in terms of this move to Celtic can help you cement that place in the squad and then trying to get them to qualify for North America?

Sporting CP v Celtic – Pre-Season Friendly Benjamin Nygren of Celtic FC controls the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images

Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, that is the plan at least. I think it is the biggest thing you can do to represent your country. I would love to do it and I am looking forward to playing for Sweden for many years.”

Q: Back to Celtic, when you come to a club like this there is so much focus. You have to have that winning mentality, is that something you’re going to have to relish and embrace the pressure and the culture here in Scotland in terms of what it is all about?

Sporting CP v Celtic – Pre-Season Friendly Benjamin Nygren of Celtic FC controls the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images

Benjamin Nygren: “The one’s that know me knows my winning mentality and that is one thing why I wanted to come here. I wanted to be around like-minded people that wants to do everything to win and hates to lose.”

Meanwhile Manchester City centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has arrived in Glasgow ahead of his move to Celtic, Sky Sports reports.

Conor Spence

David Potter at the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden, Celtic 2 Hearts 1, 25 may 2019. Photo The Celtic Star

CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES BY DAVID POTTER, FOREWORD BY DANNY McGRAIN is published by Celtic Star Books on the fifth day of September. You can pre-order now to guarantee your copy which will be signed by Danny McGrain, with just a limited number of signed copies available.

Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered and don’t worry, your copy will be signed by the legendary Celtic and Scotland star who captained Celtic for the early years of the 1980s.

And from today we’ve reduced the price of an earlier David Potter book – Celtic’ Icicle – Alec McNair – to just £5, so when you order with Celtic in the Eighties you get two books and better still the postage is only charged on one. Offer available for a short period only as we have a very limited number of copies of David’s wonderful book on Alec McNair left.

So why have one brilliant David Potter book when you can enjoy two?

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.