Kieran Tierney deal agreed, £34m striker joins – Celtic’s perfect end to transfer window.
Celtic are in for a hectic final week of the winter transfer window leading up to deadline day, with the Scottish champions expected to strengthen Brendan Rodgers’ squad for the second half of the season.
Celtic have enjoyed one of their most successful Januarys yet, and it just gets better.
Last week, the Scottish champions defeated BSC Young Boys 1-0, securing their first Champions League knockout stage since 2013. The transfer window closes in a week (February 3), and supporters are eagerly anticipating the transactions that are expected to take place in the following days.
Brendan Rodgers is looking for a striker to replace the departing Yogo Furuhashi, as one former player has returned to Parkhead and another is on the way. His move to Rennes is a devastating loss for many Celtic supporters, considering his ferocious reputation on Derby Day and eye for goal in the league. However, the return of fan hero Jota softens the damage.
The Portuguese winger departed Glasgow in the summer of 2023 to join Saudi club Al-Ittihad for a record £25 million. However, his career away from Celtic has been dogged by difficulties, with four goals and one assist in 25 games for the Saudi club before coming to France for a fresh start.
Jota joined Ligue 1 club Rennes last summer for £6.7 million (€8 million), scoring and assisting once in ten appearances. On Monday afternoon (January 27), it was reported that the 25-year-old has returned to Glasgow, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract for £8 million with Celtic.
It appears that the transfer business at Celtic Park is also far from concluded. Record Sport explores Rodgers’ ideal end-of-season scenario as time runs out.
Kieran Tierney returns sooner.
Another great piece of news from Parkhead is the long-awaited homecoming of academy standout and club legend Tierney. The Scottish defender departed his hometown club in 2019 for a then-record fee of £25 million, but his stint in the Premier League has been marred by injuries.
However, whispers began to circulate at the start of the year that Tierney may make a stunning return to Celtic, given his contract with Arsenal expires in the summer. The versatile defender is thought to have signed a pre-contract with the club, ensuring his return in the summer, with The Telegraph saying that the 27-year-old rejected down offers from other Premier League clubs and international teams to come home.
However, the timing of his Arsenal exit is dependent on one other player on the Gunners’ roster. Oleksander Zinchenko, his fellow left-back, might also be on the move this month, with Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund keen in signing the Ukrainian for £30 million.
If this deal occurs, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be left with just Tierney and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly for the title run-in. It remains to be seen whether a deal for Tierney will be vetoed, as Arteta still has Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori as possibilities for the left full-back position.
This has given Celtic fans optimism that Tierney can join on loan in January before completing a free transfer in the summer when his Arsenal deal expires.
Evan Ferguson joined on loan.
Rodgers’ key goal for the remainder of the window is to secure a new frontman following Kyogo’s departure. According to Record Sport, Celtic are ready to send out feelers to bring Mathias Kvistgaarden to the club this window, but current club Brondy is holding out for bids of at least £13 million.
The Danish striker, who has 10 goals and four assists in the Superliga this season, has been a long-term target for Celtic, but the price tag may be one reason why they delay their chase until the summer.
In the meanwhile, a loan deal for Brighton striker Evan Ferguson appears to be an ideal answer. The Irishman has only one goal in 12 Premier League appearances this season, and sources say that the club is allowing the youngster to depart until the end of the season.
According to Fabrizio Romano, various teams in the Premier League, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga have expressed interest in the highly-rated star, but Celtic are also monitoring the situation, according to TBR Football.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has stated that the striker, valued at £34 million by Transfermarkt, may be made available for a temporary move shortly. Hurzeler replied, “We’ll see what happens in the end.
“There are still certain guys on the offensive line who aren’t at their best, and those who are dealing with minor ailments. Evan is also not fit yet, so we still have a few days before the opportunity closes. Until then, we need to find out what is going on, what we need for the rest of the season, and what the players desire. Then we’ll make a choice together.”
Clearout accomplished.
Another element of the jigsaw for Celtic will be to weed away certain squad players who are not part of the club’s immediate ambitions for success. Scottish defender Stephen Welsh has joined Belgian side KV Mechelen on loan until the end of the season, allowing the 25-year-old to gain some minutes in before returning to Glasgow.
Alexandro Bernabei, an Argentine left-back, also confirmed his departure from Celtic earlier this month, joining Brazilian club Internacional on a four-year contract worth £4.5 million following a successful loan spell with the club. Midfielder Odin Thiago Holm has also announced a transfer away from the club, joining MLS side Los Angeles FC on a season-long loan until the end of 2025.
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