From early setbacks to Champions League goals

Kasper Hogh scored for Denmark in their World Cup play-off against the Czech Republic [Getty Images] Kasper Hogh's career has been a slow burner since he came through the youth ranks with local club Randers but was sold to second-tier Hobro after an injury hit spell, including a loan to Valur in Iceland. Now the 25-year-old Denmark striker is poised for a medical pending a big-money transfer from Bodo/Glimt to Celtic. A move to Danish Superliga club AaB had followed in January 2022, but he was on the move again a year later, this time to Stabaek, who had just been promoted to the Norwegian Eliteserien. It was there that Hogh's career took off as they exercised their purchase option only six months into his year-long loan after he scored eight goals in 14 games. Within another three months, he signed a pre-contract agreement with Bodø/Glimt to join their top-flight rivals in January 2024. Hogh would finish the season as his new club's top scorer with 12 goals as they retained the Norwegian title - and his seven goals in the Europa League made him the competition's joint top marksman as they reached the semi-finals. He was also the club's top scorer for 2025 with 17 goals, albeit Bodo/Glimt finished second, one point behind Viking. In January, he grabbed a double in a 3-1 Champions League win over Manchester City and the following week netted again in a 2-1 win away to Atletico Madrid. Hogh was first called up to Denmark's senior national squad in March and made his debut as a late substitute in a 4–0 win over North Macedonia. In his second appearance, he came off the bench to head Denmark's equaliser in their World Cup play-off final against the Czech Republic only for his side to lose out in a penalty shoot-out.