Balikwisha to Celtic fit – tactically, statistically, and personally | OneFootball

According to respected Belgian journalist Johan Walckiers deal between Celtic and Royal Antwerp for Michel-Ange Balikwisha is “close”, with The Celtic Star’s own JustAnOrdinaryBhoy confirming that the groundwork for this transfer has been bubbling away for some time.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Royal Antwerp is tackled by Jules Kounde of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between FC Barcelona and Royal Antwerp at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on September 19, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The move seems likely to accelerate once Nicolas Kühn completes his switch to Italian club Como, freeing up space and budget for Celtic to make their move.

Balikwisha, 24, is a right-footed left winger—an ideal inverted wide forward in Brendan Rodgers’ system. At Royal Antwerp, he’s contributed 29 goals and 17 assists across 141 appearances, and despite some difficult spells with injury, his numbers and style of play fit a Brendan Rodgers team, and there is still room for further development.

Let’s break down the fit—tactically, statistically, and personally.

Rodgers favours wingers who cut inside onto their stronger foot, link play centrally, press aggressively, and add real end product. In that regard, Balikwisha fits well.

He’s technically sharp, links well in tight areas, and is constantly available between the lines. He’s also versatile—able to play left, right, or centrally if needed—but it’s from the left cutting in that he does his best work.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Royal Antwerp takes a shot whilst under pressure from Jules Kounde of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Barcelona and Royal Antwerp at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on September 19, 2023 in Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Looking at the data via FBRef (comparing him to other attacking midfielders and wingers in top European leagues), and Fotmob Balikwisha consistently shows up in all the right areas.

He ranks in the 87th percentile for non-penalty expected goals, and 77th for non-penalty goals scored—a clear sign he finds and finishes high-quality chances. He’s also in the 85th percentile for progressive passes received and 79th for touches in the attacking box, which shows how active he is in dangerous areas.

Creatively, he’s in the 66th percentile for shot-creating actions—a solid number that could feasibly rise in a Celtic side that dominate domestically. He’s also committed defensively, ranking 76th percentile for final-third tackles—perfect for the pressing style Rodgers demands.

And with an 88th percentile short pass completion rate, he offers reliability and intelligence in possession—something Celtic rely on to break down packed defences.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha during the Belgian “Pro League” First Division football match between Royal Antwerp FC and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise at Bosuil-Stadium in Antwerp on March 17, 2024. (Photo by KRISTOF VAN ACCOM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)

After recovering from a meniscus issue that sidelined him for months, Balikwisha made 18 league appearances, scoring four goals and assisting three. But the numbers show a player regaining confidence and sharpness.

His shot accuracy of 59% is excellent for a winger, while 1.4 key passes per 90 minutes highlights his ability to create chances for others. He also completed 3.5 dribbles per 90 with nearly 60% success—proof that he’s more than capable of beating defenders in tight spaces, not just running in behind.

Physically, he’s no lightweight either, winning 54% of his duels—suggesting he’s ready for the physical battles of Scottish football.

All of this came after a lengthy injury layoff, which makes the numbers even more impressive.

Rodgers keeps a focused, team-driven dressing room with little room for ego. On that front, Balikwisha again ticks the boxes.

When Celtic first came calling in January, Balikwisha turned the move down, to focus on recovery and help Antwerp finish the season strong. He told Belgian press:

>“Celtic’s interest was concrete… but I had to put my body first.”

ready-made inverted winger who can contribute now, but also improve further, so the right boxes appear to have been ticked on this one. We just need to wait and see if Celtic get this deal over the line, but it certainly looks promising.

Niall J

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