Ryan Naderi Faces International Choice Between Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Germany
Ryan Naderi has barely settled into life at Rangers, yet his next big decision may not be about club football at all. It could be about which flag he chooses to play under.
According to Bild, the 23-year-old striker is close to receiving a call-up from the Czech national team, with sporting director Pavel Nedved already making contact. The interest is serious. So is the competition.
Naderi’s story is tailor-made for a modern international battle. Born in Dresden to a Czech mother and a Bulgarian father, he sits at the crossroads of three federations. Bulgaria’s association has already tried to bring him on board in the past, but he turned those advances down. The Czech Republic, though, is said to appeal to him more.
Germany lurks in the background as the heavyweight option. With Jürgen Klopp now in charge of the national team and preparing for his first full international window, any hint of DFB potential will not go unnoticed. If Klopp decides Naderi fits into his long-term plans, he may have to move quickly before the Czechs close the door.
Passport race against the clock
There is a catch for the Czechs. For Naderi to represent them, he must first secure a Czech passport. That process is underway but far from straightforward, and time is tight.
The Czech Republic face Croatia, England (twice) and Spain in their upcoming Nations League fixtures, a brutal run that would be a high-profile stage for any newcomer. At this point, it remains unclear whether the paperwork can be completed in time for those matches, or whether his debut – if it comes – will have to wait.
Germany, meanwhile, have their own schedule mapped out: the Netherlands, Serbia and Greece (twice) in the next international window. Klopp plans to name an unusually large squad to assess a wide range of players, with room for left-field selections. It is exactly the kind of camp where a late-blooming centre-forward could appear out of nowhere.
If Naderi hesitates, though, the Czech offer might not wait forever.
From Dresden prospect to Rangers’ Old Firm weapon
Naderi’s rise has not been explosive, but it has been relentless.
He came through the youth ranks at Dynamo Dresden before moving to Borussia Mönchengladbach at 17, a shift that hinted at serious potential. The real breakthrough into professional football arrived in 2024 with Hansa Rostock in the 3. Liga.
There, across 45 appearances, he produced 13 goals and nine assists. Not world-beating numbers, but strong enough to mark him out as one of the division’s most effective forwards. Standing at 1.94 metres, he plays as a classic centre-forward – a traditional No 9 who offers presence, aerial threat and a target for everything pumped into the box.
Those performances pushed Rangers to act. Last winter, they paid a 3. Liga record fee of €5.5 million to bring him to Glasgow, a statement of faith in a player who had yet to test himself at the very top.
The adaptation has gone smoothly. In 21 appearances for Rangers, Naderi has six goals and six assists, contributing regularly without yet hitting his ceiling. His most eye-catching display came last weekend in the Old Firm, where he set up one goal in a 3-0 win over Celtic and played a key role in the build-up to another. On a day when reputations are made or broken, he looked completely at home.
Perform like that in Glasgow, and national selectors start to pay attention.
A decision that could define a career
So Naderi stands at a crossroads: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, or a late push from Germany under Klopp.
Bulgaria knocked first and were turned away. The Czech Republic have stepped forward with intent and a clear path, provided the passport arrives. Germany, with their new era and expanded squad plans, hover as the most glamorous but also the most competitive option.
For a 23-year-old centre-forward making his way from 3. Liga grounds to Old Firm derbies, the next shirt he pulls on at international level may shape the rest of his career. The question now is simple: who convinces him first – and who is brave enough to bet on him for the long haul?
