Celtic’s club-record signing Kasper Hogh backed to be the striker they have been missing

Celtic have completed their biggest transfer deal in history after signing Danish striker Kasper Hogh from Bodo/Glimt for a reported £11 million club-record fee.

The 25-year-old forward, who has been the Scottish champions’ main attacking target throughout the summer, has signed a four-year contract at Celtic Park as manager Martin O’Neill looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season.

Speaking to Flashscore, Scottish football expert Ryan McDonald from the Daily Record explained why Hogh could be the ideal solution to Celtic’s long-standing problems in attack and discussed the huge expectations facing the Danish international striker.

Celtic’s search for a natural goalscorer

Although Celtic secured the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership title after a dramatic 3-1 victory over Heart of Midlothian, the club’s lack of a recognised striker remained one of the biggest talking points throughout the campaign.

The champions often relied on attacking midfielders and wide players to provide goals, with the team lacking a consistent, natural number nine capable of leading the line in domestic and European competition.

Since the January 2025 departure of Kyogo Furuhashi, Celtic had struggled to replace his goals and movement in the final third. Swedish midfielder Benjamin Nygren was forced to take on much of the scoring responsibility, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 21 goals in all competitions.

Meanwhile, winger Daizen Maeda, who later joined Ipswich Town, was frequently used as a central striker. While he contributed 14 league goals, concerns remained that Celtic were missing a ruthless penalty-box finisher.

Celtic scored 73 league goals last season, their lowest total since the 2017/18 campaign. The club also fell below their expected goals (xG) figure of 80.94 and missed 84 major chances, increasing pressure on the board to address their attacking options.

According to McDonald, the failure to replace Kyogo created frustration among supporters.

“The board has been criticised for their transfer failings in their last three or four windows. They failed to properly support Brendan Rodgers last season, which led to the humiliating Champions League play-off exit against Kairat Almaty.”

“That was a massive blow to the aspirations for the season, and it led to fan protests pretty much throughout the whole campaign.”

“The fans and the team have been crying out for a new striker ever since Celtic sold Kyogo to Rennes around 18 months ago. They hadn’t really signed a replacement and left an enormous void up front.”

Kasper Hogh arrives with huge expectations

With Celtic preparing for their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign, pressure was growing on the club hierarchy to find a proven striker.

McDonald believes they have finally found that player in Hogh.

“He’s a player who comes in with a real pedigree. A really exciting track record. A prolific track record. He’s a hugely exciting signing.”

“From what I’ve heard from former teammates and Norwegian pundits, Kasper Hogh is certainly a penalty-box striker.”

“When you spend £11 million and give him the No. 9 shirt, he’s going to be the first-choice striker.”

Hogh arrives in Glasgow after an impressive spell with Bodo/Glimt, where he finished last season as the club’s leading scorer with 17 league goals in 28 appearances.

The striker also made a major impact in the UEFA Champions League, scoring five goals during the group and knockout stages, including a memorable brace in Bodo/Glimt’s 3-1 victory over Manchester City and a crucial goal against Atletico Madrid.

His European performances earned him his first senior appearance for the Denmark national team in March 2026.

Can Hogh handle the Celtic Park pressure?

Arriving with a record transfer fee and the responsibility of wearing Celtic’s famous No. 9 shirt, Hogh will face immediate pressure to deliver.

However, McDonald believes the striker has the mentality to succeed in Glasgow.

“He leads by example on the pitch. He’s a popular personality off the pitch and in the changing room. I don’t think he strikes me as the type of character who will buckle under the pressure of that price tag.”

“Obviously, it’s a big jump coming from playing in front of 7,000 or 8,000 fans at Bodo/Glimt to suddenly playing in front of 60,000 passionate supporters at Celtic Park.”

“But he has already played in some of the biggest arenas in European football in the Champions League, where he has scored goals.”

“I think Kasper will quickly settle at Celtic Park and once he gets that first goal under his belt, I’m pretty sure he’ll start scoring goals.”

Scandinavian success at Celtic

Celtic have enjoyed considerable success with Scandinavian players over the years, with names such as Henrik Larsson, Brian Laudrup, Kristoffer Ajer, and Erik Sviatchenko leaving a lasting impact at the club.

McDonald believes that history could help Hogh adapt quickly to life in Scotland.

“Celtic have a pretty decent track record for signing Scandinavian players. Having players like Callum McGregor, James Forrest, and Kieran Tierney in the dressing room, there won’t be any issues with settling in.”

“I think Hogh will be welcomed with open arms.”

“Sviatchenko’s name is etched in Celtic folklore. If Hogh can do half as well as Erik, who won a Treble with Celtic and went a full league season unbeaten, they will be singing Hogh’s name forever at Celtic Park.”

With Celtic desperate for a reliable goalscorer, the arrival of Kasper Hogh represents more than just a record signing — it could be the solution to one of the club’s biggest problems heading into the new season.