Freddie Ljungberg heads for Celtic trial, Lennon confirms

Freddie Ljungberg is on his way to Celtic for a weeklong trial as he hopes to join the Scottish Premier League squad.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that Freddie is Glasgow bound following 18 months playing in the MLS, initially for the Seattle Sounders before transferring to the Chicago Fire in the summer.

"He's coming in and he'll have a look at us," said Lennon. "We think he's got great calibre. He's been a world-class player for a long time."

Johan Mjallby has worked with Ljungberg's agent to bring the 33-year-old back to Europe. “Ljungberg's agency contacted us and Johan had a chat with him,” added Lennon. “He is keen to come and he wants to play in Europe again.”

“He has been a quality player for a long time, he is vastly experienced and again, it's just an opportunity that might be there for us. You don't lose the quality, he might be missing an edge but we will see how he is. We like the idea of it, because he's got a bit of experience.

“He's got the quality, so he's coming in for a couple of days and if we like each other, we might be able to get a deal done. It's a bit of personality, and a bit of character - but, above all that, he'll bring a bit of quality as well.”

Former Sweden captain Ljungberg enjoyed an impressive run at Arsenal after joining the north London team in 1998. He went on to win the League and FA Cup in 2002.

After featuring in the 2006 squad that faced Barcelona in the Champions League final (Arsenal lost 2-1) he moved to West Ham in 2007, before moving to the Seattle Sounders one year later.

Ljungberg's arrival at Celtic would bring class and experience to a midfield that will be without Koreans Cha Du-Ri and Ki Sung-Yeung on for the next few weeks as they head off to perform Asian Cup duty.