Who is Roony Bardghji? The Swedish wonderkid wanted by Chelsea

Cameron Smith

10 Nov 2023 03:55 CST
4 min read

When Roony Bardghji scored a late winner for Copenhagen against Manchester United in the fourth round of fixtures during the 2023-24 Champions League group stages, the watching world took note.

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At just 17 years old at the time, the young Swedish winger looked the part at the very highest level and his cameo appearance versus the Red Devils was a sight to behold.

Chelsea and several other elite sides had already been keeping tabs on Bardghji, but that goal elevated his status in world football massively.

A Football Manager wonderkid, Bardghji has begun to show his huge talent on the pitch, but who is he and how good can he become?

What position does Roony Bardghji play in?

Bardghji predominantly plays as a right winger, which enables him to cut inside onto his stronger left foot. However, he can operate anywhere along the forward line.

How good is Roony Bardghji?

Bardghji became Copenhagen’s youngest-ever player when he featured against AGF in November 2021, aged just 16 years and six days old.

Just one week later, he scored from 25 yards out versus Aalborg to become the youngest goal-scorer ever in the Danish top division.

His goal against Man Utd in the Champions League was his 10th in just 23 appearances for Copenhagen’s senior team during the 2023-24 season, with his performances on the big stage catching the attention of Europe’s elite clubs.

This game has everything! 🤯

At 17 years old, Roony Bardghji puts Copenhagen ahead with this stunning strike! 🤩#UCL pic.twitter.com/GZZ6ULgyqO
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 8, 2023

Bardghji’s Sweden U17 coach told newspaper Sportexpressen, via The Daily Mail: “He has an understanding of the game, as well as good balance and coordination, which means that he has exceptional technique with the ball at his feet. It's incredibly difficult to take the ball off him.

“He is good one-on-one and has a good shot. He can shoot with both feet, even if he is basically left-footed, he can finish with the right as well.

“That makes him very difficult to read for the defenders. Will he go right or left? It makes him difficult to handle.”

Furthermore, in 2022, Bardghji said in an interview with Aftonbladet, as per The Daily Mail: “My goal is to become the best footballer in the world. I've had that dream since I was a kid and nothing can stop me except myself.

“I want to end up at Real Madrid and I want to play there for many years.”

What clubs are interested in signing Roony Bardghji?

Chelsea have shown the most interest in signing Bardghji, with Danish outlet Tipsbladet reporting the Blues have been “crazy” about Bardghji in the past and are still looking to sign the Swedish teenager.

In addition, reports suggest that Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax have also sent scouts to Copenhagen to watch his progress.