Feyenoord Bolster Attack with Arrival of Casper Tengstedt Ahead of Champions League Push
Feyenoord have officially completed the signing of Danish forward Casper Tengstedt from Benfica, in a move aimed at strengthening their attacking line before the upcoming UEFA Champions League qualifiers. The 25-year-old has inked a four-year deal with the Dutch giants, as the club seeks to bounce back from a difficult second half of last season following the departure of Santiago Gimenez.
Tengstedt Signs Four-Year Deal After Mixed Spell in Portugal
Feyenoord paid a guaranteed €6 million to secure Tengstedt’s services, with the potential for another €1 million in performance-related bonuses. As part of the agreement, Benfica also secured a future sell-on clause.
The Danish striker initially joined Benfica with high expectations but struggled to find his footing in Portugal. Over two seasons, he netted just six goals in 25 appearances across all competitions. Despite some promising moments, recurring injuries and limited consistency led to a loan spell with Hellas Verona in Serie A during the 2024/25 campaign.
Injury Troubles Stall Momentum in Italy
Tengstedt made a bright start with Verona and appeared poised for a breakout season. However, persistent ankle injuries derailed his progress in the second half of the campaign. As a result, Verona opted not to make his move permanent, and he returned to Benfica, where he remained out of the first-team plans.
Now, the Danish international gets a fresh start in the Netherlands with a chance to reignite his career in a system that could better suit his style of play.
Aursnes Connection and the Pull of De Kuip
In his first comments as a Feyenoord player, Tengstedt credited former midfielder Fredrik Aursnes—now at Benfica and a close friend—for influencing his decision.
“Fredrik is one of my best friends. He told me about the club’s amazing atmosphere, the fans, and what it’s like to play at De Kuip,” Tengstedt said. “That made me eager to come here. I know what’s at stake in the Champions League qualifiers, and I’m ready to give everything for the club.”
Reinforcements After Gimenez Departure
The signing of Tengstedt addresses a key area of need for Feyenoord. Since selling star striker Santiago Gimenez to AC Milan in January for a club-record fee, the team has struggled up front. Remaining forwards Ayase Ueda and Julian Carranza managed just six goals combined in the second half of the season, highlighting the need for a proven scorer.
Feyenoord begin their 2025/26 campaign on August 5th with a crucial home fixture against Turkish side Fenerbahce in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Tengstedt is expected to play a key role as the club targets a spot in the group stage.
