Ryan Naderi's rapid promotion story forces Jürgen Klopp to act
Ryan Naderi, a 23‑year‑old striker for the Glasgow Rangers, has made an impressive rise in recent months and is considered a German breakout star who is on the verge of a nomination for the Czech national team. At the same time, Jürgen Klopp must act quickly to assess possible options for the German squad.
Naderi was born in Dresden, his mother is of Czech origin and his father comes from Bulgaria. The Bulgarian football association had already tried to win him over for its own national team, but Naderi declined.
Early Stages and Breakthrough
The young forward began his career in the youth department of Dynamo Dresden and moved at the age of seventeen to Borussia Mönchengladbach. In 2024 he made his professional debut with Hansa Rostock.
In the 3. League he recorded 13 goals and nine assists in 45 appearances, sharpening his profile as a classic centre‑forward standing 1.94 m tall. His finishing efficiency quickly made him a sought‑after target for bigger clubs.
Last winter Naderi transferred for the third‑division record sum of €5.5 million to the Scottish traditional club Rangers. Since then he has scored six goals and provided an equal number of assists in 21 matches.
In the prestigious Old‑Firm clash against arch‑rival Celtic, he delivered an assist for the 3‑0 win last weekend and was involved in another goal. This underscored his importance for the heated derby.
National Prospects and Klopp’s Dilemma
According to a report, Naderi is on the brink of a nomination for the Czech national team, with sports director Pavel Nedved already having made contact. For a switch he would first need to apply for a Czech passport, and it remains unclear whether he will be available for the upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia, England (twice) and Spain.
In parallel, new national team coach Jürgen Klopp plans to name an unusually large squad for the upcoming internationals against the Netherlands, Serbia and Greece (twice), to test a multitude of players. Should he see potential in Naderi for the DFB team, he would need to decide quickly before the striker becomes firmly tied to the Czech selection.