Celtic Transfer Latest – Balikwisha deal ‘close’, Kuhn signing for Como today

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The Celtic Star

·8 July 2025

Celtic Transfer Latest – Balikwisha deal ‘close’, Kuhn signing for Como today

There was some reported movement on the transfer front last night with Belgian sports journalist Johan Walckiers writing on respected Belgian outlet Voetbalkrant stating that a deal for long term target Michel–Angel Balikwisha is ‘close’ to completing a move to Scottish champions, Celtic.

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)

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The pacy Royal Antwerp winger and former Standard Liege player has been a Celtic target since last summer and only a serious injury stopped any move from materialising.

If the report is indeed accurate – and we believe that it is – it will be a welcome boost to Brendan Rodgers and the supporters especially after losing the influential Nicolas Kuhn who has left Celtic to join Serie A new boys Como in a deal believed to be worth £17 million plus add ons.

Balikwisha 24 who can operate anywhere across the front three boasts a decent record of 29 goals and 17 assists in 141 appearances for Antwerp, and would prove a valuable addition to the Celtic squad.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Arbnor Muja of Royal Antwerp look on prior to the UEFA Champions League match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp at Volksparkstadion on November 28, 2023 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

No updated details of any fee have been mentioned but it’s believed to be between £4 million – £5 million former Belgian youth international whose contract has only one year remaining. Like many clubs these days Royal Antwerp is required to sell before they in a financial position to bring in new signings of their own, and Marc Overmars cannot afford to allow Balikwisha to run down his contact and leave on a free transfer at the end of this upcoming campaign.

Celtic has no such money worries but, with plenty of knowledge that Nicolas Kuhn was a want-away, no replacement has been brought into the club in advance of the lucrative deal with Italian side Como going though.

Nicolas Kuhn on his way to Como. Photo social media

We can expect the welcome to Como photos to appear today and also some white smoke on Celtic’s long standing pursuit of Michel–Angel Balikwisha, who will be coming in to Celtic having to calm fears over his injury record, which will be a real concern until he’s shown he is robust enough for the Scottish game.

Hopefully more news of the move will develop in the next 24 hours but you can expect one out followed quickly by one in today.

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)

And remember this from The Celtic Star a few weeks ago – Ignore deadlock, stalled stories, Belgian source confirms Balikwisha deal progressing well.

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