Celtic captain Callum McGregor has offered an insight into the growing influence of new striker Kasper Høgh, describing the Danish forward as an important addition to the Hoops’ dressing room after making an immediate impression on and off the pitch.
Høgh arrived at Celtic from Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt in a reported club-record deal in July, signing a four-year contract after establishing himself as one of the most prolific forwards in Norwegian football. Celtic officially confirmed his arrival on July 28, with the striker taking the number nine shirt.
The 25-year-old came to Glasgow with a sizeable reputation. During his time with Bodø/Glimt, Høgh scored 54 goals in 103 appearances, helping establish himself as a key attacking figure before making the move to Scotland.
There was therefore considerable expectation surrounding his arrival, particularly given Celtic’s need for a reliable goalscorer.
However, it has not taken long for Høgh to give supporters something to celebrate.
After initially having to settle into a new league and environment, the Danish striker announced himself emphatically by scoring a hat-trick against Kilmarnock. His performance immediately changed the conversation around his adaptation to Scottish football and gave Celtic supporters an early glimpse of what the record signing could offer.
His impact has also extended beyond his goals.
McGregor has highlighted the personality Høgh has brought into the Celtic dressing room, suggesting that the striker’s ability to remain himself has helped him integrate quickly with his new teammates.
McGregor’s statement
It is understood that McGregor was particularly impressed by how naturally Høgh has settled into the group, with the Celtic captain explaining that the forward has not tried to change his personality simply because he has moved to a much bigger club.
“Since his arrival, he lives his life the way he wants to be. He’s just himself. He’s a great signing with character to have around. Everyone is, in little time, we get on so well with each other. That was shown in our pre-season trip as you guys saw in some of the videos. But yeah, he’s a very important signing.”
The captain’s comments are significant because they focus on something beyond Høgh’s statistics.
For a new striker arriving under the pressure of a record transfer fee, adapting to the dressing room can be just as important as adapting to the pitch. McGregor’s assessment suggests Høgh has already established himself as a popular figure among his teammates.
That relationship could prove valuable as Celtic enter a demanding period of the season.
Høgh’s arrival has been part of an attacking rebuild under Martin O’Neill, with the club looking to add more goals and competition to the squad. His early performances have certainly strengthened the belief that Celtic may have found the centre-forward capable of making a major difference.
The striker’s confidence also appears to be growing rapidly.
Rather than looking overwhelmed by the expectation surrounding his transfer fee, Høgh has shown signs of embracing the responsibility. His hat-trick against Kilmarnock was the clearest example, while his previous European experience with Bodø/Glimt has given him an important foundation for handling high-pressure matches.
That European pedigree was one of the reasons Celtic were willing to make such a significant investment.
Høgh had already demonstrated that he could perform against elite opposition during his time in Norway. Earlier in 2026, he scored twice against Manchester City in a Champions League victory for Bodø/Glimt before finding the net against Atlético Madrid the following week.
Now, Celtic supporters are hoping that experience can translate into European success at Parkhead.
The early signs are encouraging.
Celtic recently produced a commanding 3-0 victory over LASK in the first leg of their Champions League play-off, with Camilo Durán scoring twice and Benjamin Nygren also finding the net. Høgh’s presence gives O’Neill another attacking option as Celtic chase Champions League qualification.
And supporters have certainly noticed the difference.
Online, Celtic fans have been increasingly enthusiastic about the striker’s personality, goalscoring ability and apparent connection with his teammates.
@CelticDa, wrote: “Hogh already looks like he belongs here. What a signing.”
@Hoops1892, posted: “The best thing is how quickly he’s settled. You can see the confidence.”
@ParkheadFaithful added: “McGregor saying this tells you everything. The dressing room clearly loves him.”
@CelticByNature, wrote: “Goals are one thing, but having that character in the dressing room is massive.”
The excitement has been particularly strong since Høgh’s hat-trick, with supporters beginning to believe that Celtic’s record investment could quickly justify itself.
@TheHoopsView, summed up the mood by saying: “He came with pressure and answered it with goals. That’s exactly what Celtic needed.”
For McGregor, though, the most encouraging aspect appears to be that Høgh has fitted into the group without attempting to be something he is not.
That can be crucial inside a dressing room.
Celtic are competing on several fronts, and the squad will need strong relationships if O’Neill’s side are to maintain their challenge domestically while progressing in Europe. The arrival of players who can contribute both technically and socially could therefore be just as important as their statistics.
Høgh appears to be ticking both boxes.
His record at Bodø/Glimt already demonstrated his goalscoring credentials, while his early Celtic performances have provided immediate evidence that he can make an impact in Scotland.
Now, with McGregor publicly praising his character, the striker appears to have received another significant endorsement from one of the most influential figures inside the Celtic dressing room.
For a player brought in as a statement signing, that could be exactly the start Celtic were hoping for.
And if Høgh continues producing goals at his current rate, the conversation around the record transfer may soon shift from “Can he handle the pressure?” to a very different question:
Just how many goals can he score for Celtic?
