The fanfare tells its own story when it comes to Mathias Kvistgaarden.
The reaction to Norwich City’s latest deal – a £6.9million one that means the Brondby attacker is likely to become their seventh signing of the summer – has constituted excitement on a near-unmatched scale, evoking memories of the fever pitched feeling that accompanied Ricky van Wolfswinkel’s 2013 arrival.
But an assessment of Kvistgaarden’s credentials suggests that his Canaries career could be much more successful than his Dutch predecessor’s.
Prime, perhaps, among that evidence is the list of clubs who are now set to miss out on the 23-year-old. Lens were closest after agreeing a £10.8million deal with Brondby, and the presence of the French top flight club in the race alone is proof enough of his pedigree. Add Bundesliga sides Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig to the discussion and it’s even more encouraging, ditto Scottish champions Celtic a little closer to home.
Beating those clubs to a deal is not only evidence of the pull at Carrow Road this summer and sporting director Ben Knapper’s good work, but also of the calibre of player aiding City’s forward line next term.
It’s not just at club level that he’s wanted, either. Last month Kvistgaarden became a Danish international, coming on for Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard in a friendly against Ruairi McConville and Northern Ireland. Head coach Brian Riemer said it had been a long time coming in the lead-up to that game.
“He could have been called up sooner, but he had a couple of injury setbacks,” revealed Riemer. “Kvistgaarden hit really good form at the end of the season, so it was natural he was selected. In almost all the matches I’ve seen Kvistgaarden play, he’s been a tormentor for the opponents’ defences.
“He really gets a lot out of a little. He is a guy who believes in even the most impossible chance. He is willing to run with and without the ball.”
Along with that tenacity comes quality, and the ability that took the forward to 17 goals in 26 league games last term. Whether he’s replacing Borja Sainz out wide or Josh Sargent through the middle, he’ll need to use a wide spectrum of skills to hit the heights of Norwich’s two top scorers.
The good news is that he fits the all-rounder profile, as attested by Vancouver Whitecaps boss Jesper Sorensen. He worked with Kvistgaarden at Brondby between 2023 and 2024, and likens him to someone who English fans will be well aware of.
“Kvistgaarden, for me, is the best striker in the Danish league,” he said. “He can make goals on his own or for others. He can finish with both his left and his right foot, as well as with his head.
“He is a small striker, but he plays like a big target man in games. Mathias is a multi-dimensional player, who can link up the play and make things happen when one-on-one with the defence. He is very strong in the box and can head the ball better than people in Denmark give him credit for.
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