Ryan Naderi Faces International Decision Amid Czech, Bulgarian, and German Interest
Ryan Naderi has gone from 3. Liga prospect to the subject of a full-blown international battle in barely a year. Now the 23-year-old Rangers striker stands on the brink of a decision that could shape the next decade of his career.
According to Bild, the Czech national team are closing in on a call-up for the 1.94m forward, with sporting director Pavel Nedved already making contact. The courtship is serious. So is the competition.
Naderi was born in Dresden to a Czech mother and a Bulgarian father, and both associations have had him on their radar. Bulgaria tried to bring him in earlier, but he turned those advances down. The door there is not completely shut, but his stance is said to be far warmer towards the Czech Republic.
Germany, though, lurk in the background as the heavyweight option. With Jürgen Klopp newly in charge of the DFB setup and preparing his first squads, any hint of interest from the national coach would change the picture instantly. If Klopp sees him as a genuine candidate for a Germany future, he would have to move fast.
Passport race against the clock
If Naderi commits to the Czech Republic, the process is not as simple as a phone call and a shirt presentation. He would first need to apply for a Czech passport, a step that brings its own uncertainty.
The timing is tight. It remains unclear whether the paperwork could be completed in time for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Croatia, England (twice) and Spain. Those games would be a fierce introduction to international football for any striker, let alone one still bedding in at Rangers. But they also represent a powerful lure: a chance to establish himself on the biggest stage before Germany or Bulgaria can react.
While that unfolds, Germany are preparing for their own demanding international window against the Netherlands, Serbia and Greece (twice). Klopp is expected to name an unusually large squad, a clear signal that he wants to look at a wide pool of players and spring a few surprises. If Naderi’s name appears on that list, the tug of war moves to a different level.
From Dresden kid to Old Firm creator
Naderi’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. He came through the youth system at Dynamo Dresden, a familiar proving ground for hard-edged, technically sound German forwards. At 17, he took the next step, moving to Borussia Mönchengladbach to sharpen his game in one of the country’s most respected academies.
His real breakthrough, though, came in 2024 with Hansa Rostock. There, in the grind of the 3. Liga, he made the jump into professional football and showed he could handle the physical and mental demands of the senior game. Across 45 appearances, he scored 13 goals and added nine assists, numbers that turned heads beyond Germany’s borders.
Rangers were convinced enough to break the 3. Liga transfer record, paying €5.5 million for him last winter. For a player without top-flight experience, that fee was a statement. It looks less risky with every passing week.
Since landing in Glasgow, Naderi has produced six goals and six assists in 21 appearances. The output is solid, but the context matters: a new country, a new league, and the pressure of delivering for a club that demands trophies every season.
Last weekend, he stepped into the spotlight of the Old Firm and did not flinch. In Rangers’ 3-0 win over Celtic, he set up one goal and played a key role in the build-up to another. In a fixture that has swallowed more established players whole, Naderi imposed himself, using his frame, touch and awareness to unsettle Celtic’s back line.
He is, by profile, a classic centre-forward: tall, strong, a natural reference point up front. Yet his numbers at Hansa Rostock and Rangers hint at more than a penalty-box poacher. The assists, the involvement in link play, the willingness to drop in and combine – all of it adds layers to his appeal for national team selectors.
A decision that won’t wait
For now, the ball is at Naderi’s feet. The Czechs have made their move through Nedved. Bulgaria have already tried once. Germany, with Klopp reshaping the future, remain the wild card.
One passport application, one squad list, one phone call from the right coach – any of those could tilt the scales. For a striker who only broke into professional football in 2024, the choice now is stark: which flag will he carry when the anthem plays?
