Erik Benjamin Nygren (born 8 July 2001) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Celtic and the Sweden national team.
Nygren began playing football at Utbynäs SK when he was 5âÂÂ6 years old. In 2013, at the age of 12, he joined IFK Göteborg. After impressing in the youth teams, Nygren made his first-team debut for IFK Göteborg in a friendly game against ÃÂrgryte IS on 24 March 2018. Two months after his debut, in May 2018, Nygren signed his first professional contract with Göteborg, a deal running until the end of 2020, despite interest from foreign clubs such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Inter. The new contract also saw the 16-year old Nygren promoted to the first team squad.
Nygren's official debut for Göteborg came against Torns IF in the Swedish Cup on 23 August 2018, where he made a brief appearance in the 4âÂÂ0 win. Before the season ended, Nygren also made his Allsvenskan debut in a game against DjurgÃÂ¥rdens IF on 31 October 2018, and he played in the last three games of the season. In the following match against Malmö FF, Nygren started the game and was in the starting line-up in the final game of the season against ÃÂrebro SK, scoring twice in Göteborg's 3âÂÂ1 victory.
On 20 June 2019, 17-year old Nygren joined Belgian club Genk in a record deal for a fee around five million euros. He signed a deal until June 2024. Nygren made his debut for Genk in a Belgian Super Cup win against K.V. Mechelen on 20 July 2019. Nygren also scored Genk's first goal in his home debut on 27 July in a 2âÂÂ1 win over K.V. Kortrijk.
To get some more playing time and experience, Nygren was loaned out to Dutch side SC Heerenveen on 6 October 2020 for two seasons. In his first season, Nygren scored seven goals in 32 games (16 from start and 16 from the bench). Already after the first season, there was talk that he was on his way out of the club because he was not getting enough playing time, but he ended up staying and started the 2021âÂÂ22 season out at the Dutch club.
On 30 January 2022, Nygren got his loan-spell at SC Heerenveen terminated and joined Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjælland on a deal until the end of 2025.
On 27 June 2025, Nygren signed for Scottish Premiership champions Celtic on a five-year-contract for an undisclosed fee. On 3 August, he made his debut for the club in a 1âÂÂ0 win against St Mirren in the league. On 10 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2âÂÂ0 win against Aberdeen in the league. On 27 December 2025, Nygren scored a double against Livingston in the league, his 9th and 10th goal of the season and his Celtic career until then.
After having represented the Sweden U17, U19, and U21 teams, Nygren made his full international debut for the Sweden national team on 22 March 2025 in a friendly 1âÂÂ0 loss against Luxembourg, replacing Jesper Karlström in the 82nd minute. He scored his first international game goal three days later in a friendly 5âÂÂ1 win against Northern Ireland on 25 March 2025.
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