The New York Red Bulls made news Wednesday as a new player is set to join the club. Swedish midfielder Gustav Berggren and New York have agreed to a three-and-a-half-year contract that will transfer him over from Polish side Rakow Czestochowa.
With former Red Bull member Felipe Carballo returning to Gremio and Lewis Morgan being affected by injury all season, this was a necessary move for New York. Berggren is coming off a good year with his former side notching two goals and five assists with Rakow. Additionally, Berggren’s former team finished second last season in Ekstraklasa, the top league in Polish soccer.
In a press release detailing the signing of Berggren on Wednesday, Red Bulls manager Sandro Schwarz had high praise for the 27-year-old midfielder.
“Gustav possesses the abilities that we want in our central midfielders, and we are pleased to have him on our team,” Schwarz mentioned in the press release. “He will be a great asset to our midfield, and we are looking forward to having the opportunity to work with him.”
During his time in Poland, Berggren helped his squad win their first Ekstraklasa championship in the 2022-2023 season and was named their team MVP for the 2024 season. Before his time in Poland, Berggren played for the Swedish team BK Hacken and appeared in 156 matches for them. While with Hacken, the club won the top flight of Swedish soccer, the Allsvenskan, in 2022.
On the pitch, Berggren has been utilized primarily as a defensive midfielder in the majority of his matches throughout his career. Berggren should help the Red Bulls midfield in the second half of their campaign and could form a unique bond with captain Emil Forsberg. Forsberg, a Swedish international himself, should be able to assist Berggren in adjusting to the style of play in Major League Soccer.
Berggren has only played for the Swedish National Team once in a win against Moldova back in January 2020. Berggren will be one of three Swedish players on the roster, including the aforementioned Forsberg and defender Noah Eile.
Once the MLS Secondary Transfer Window opens on Thursday, Berggren will be eligible to make his league debut. The Red Bulls will look to continue enhancing their squad during the transfer window as they pursue German striker Timo Werner.
New York will resume regular-season play on Saturday on the road against Chicago Fire FC.
