Celtic Transfer Window, Round-up and Rumours | OneFootball

Celtic Transfer Window Rumours: What’s happened and what next…

Whispers of change are circling Celtic and fans can feel the excitement in the air. The January transfer window closes on Monday night, and there’s the promise of opportunities for new signings and uncertainties surrounding some of our squad as Brendan Rodgers manages his squad, looking to emerge from the window with a better squad that at the beginning of January. Speculation is running wild, as it often does, but this time it feels different. Something big changes have happened already this week and more could be on the horizon.

What still to happen? What is going on behind the scenes? The truth is, no one knows for sure — but the clues are starting to emerge, more every day. Let’s explore what could be next for Celtic in 2025.

Kyogo Furuhashi: Wanted away and joined Rennes for €10m

Kyogo signs for Rennes. Photo Rennes FC

Kyogo Furuhashi’s future was a hot topic in the early weeks of the transfer window. The Japanese forward was pivotal to Celtic’s success, consistently delivering goals when it matters most. His name had been linked with a potential move to Manchester City last summer and that is when we now know he told Celtic that he wanted to leave, to play football in one of the top five leagues in order to fulfil his ambition of playing for Japan at a World Cup. Kyogo turned 30 this month so this is clearly his last World Cup and clearly his exclusion from his national side has been a major factor in his decision to leave Celtic.

Celtic’s loss is French side Stade Rennais’ gain. In desperate need of a goalscorer amid a relegation dog-fight in Ligue 1, they’ve turned to Kyogo to help steer them out of their current struggles in France. For Celtic fans, this transfer has created both concern and frustration but almost everyone wishes Kyogo well regardless.

UEFA Champions League Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern, Celtic Park. Goal celebration by Kyogo Furuhashi however VAR rules out the goal. Photo Joeran Steinsiek IMAGO

Kyogo is more than just a striker; he’s a player who brings energy, creativity, and a unique ability to turn games, as Rennes supporters are about to discover . For Celtic losing him mid-season is a significant blow, especially with the club qualifying for the Champions League play-offs. With so much on the line, fans don’t just cheer for their team—they analyse every move and every performance as closely as some would when deciding to bet on sports.

UEFA rules make it tricky for clubs to adjust their squads during the league phase, adding another layer of complexity and this transfer leaves the team short on attacking options going to Villa Park tonight, especially as Daizen Maeda is also missing through suspension after he received a red card last week in the 1-0 win over BSC Young Boys that saw Celtic qualify.

Referee Rohit Saggi shows a red card to Daizen Maeda during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Rennes appeared willing to wait until Celtic’s Champions League fate was decided before making their move so Kyogo wasted no time in boarding a private jet at Glasgow Airport at the end of last week to take him to Rennes. While a €10 million transfer fee incoming, it was hard to see Celtic resisting the approach given Kyogo wanted to leave.

Jota’s Return

Jota rejoices in Celtic return. Photo Kenny Ramsay.

Another name dominating the Celtic rumour mill over the past month is Jota. His departure from Celtic to Al-Ittihad last summer was a significant move for the winger, but things haven’t unfolded as he likely envisioned. Struggles for consistent game time led to a switch to Rennes, offering a fresh opportunity in Ligue 1 under Jorge Sampaoli. Yet, even at Rennes, Jota has often been sidelined, and his once-promising career trajectory seems to have hit a frustrating standstill.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 training. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

This naturally fuelled talk of returning to Celtic Park, where Jota thrived and built a strong connection with the fans. Brendan Rodgers is a great admirer of Jota and seeing his opportunity the Celtic manager and the Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson negotiated a deal with Rennes at the same time as they talked about the Kyogo transfer in the opposite direction. Together these two moves suit all parties perfectly.  Jota once again has the platform to reignite his form and rediscover the spark that made him such a vital part of Celtic’s success in his first spell at the club. For Celtic this would mean bringing back a player who understands the playing style, knows how to deliver in high-pressure situations, and has proven his ability to shine in domestic and European competitions.

Jota spoke to The Celtic Star and a few other fam media sites earlier this week, with the first three questions coming from Conor Spence from this site – watch below.

The thought of Jota’s dynamic runs down the wing, his creative flair, and his knack for delivering in crucial moments has the Celtic fans buzzing. He is a player capable of changing the game instantly, offering Celtic a cutting edge that’s been missing at times this season. Bringing him back bolsters the squad and adds a sense of familiarity and excitement for supporters eager to see their Superstar from Portugal back home and in action wearing the hoops.

That said, there are challenges to consider. Joining – or re-joining – a team mid-season can be tricky, even for someone familiar with the setup. The pace of the Scottish Premiership and Celtic’s demanding schedule might make it difficult for Jota to find his rhythm immediately, given that he has only started three games this season for Rennes and had a year with next to no football at all in Saudi Arabia, where the only good thing about it seems to have been the money. Lots of money.

Jota rejoices in Celtic return. Photo Kenny Ramsay.

Despite these uncertainties, the idea of him wearing the green and white again is hard to resist and Celtic Park will be absolutely buzzing to welcome Jota back. His return will reignite his career and Celtic’s chances of securing more silverware this season, and perhaps even give the club a shout at making it through the Champions League play-offs.

So while this move isn’t without risks, the potential rewards make it a fairytale story that looks like having a happy ending with Jota signing a long term contract and Celtic re-signing a player 18 months after selling him to Al-Ittihad for almost £20m less than they received. Now that is how to make the transfer market work for you!

Celtic’s Remaining Priorities in the January Transfer Window

Sondre Orjasaeter of Norway during the UEFA European Under-21 Qualifier playoff football match between Norway and Finland on November 19, 2024 in Stavanger. Photo: Marius Simensen

Strengthening the wings is a top priority for Celtic and the arrival of Jota goes some way to achieving that. However Brendan Rodgers has spoken of his desire to recruit two wingers in the January window and the focus yesterday turned to Norwegian winger Sondre Orjasaeter from Sarpsborg, with Sky Sports News reporting that the Scottish Champions had made a £7m bid. Brendan Rodgers however denied any knowledge of this but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened as he is in Birmingham ahead of tonight’s Champions League match at Villa Park. The Celtic manager will be fully focused on that and will catch up with transfer developments tomorrow.

30th October 2024 Celtic Park, Scottish Premiership Celtic versus Dundee Luis Palma of Celtic hits a pass while Ethan Ingram of Dundee tries to close him down Photo: ActionPlus David Young

Injuries and inconsistent performances, especially on the right flank, have highlighted the need for reinforcements. James Forrest’s injury and indeed his age, Nicolas Kuhn’s recurring knee problems have left the team short of reliable options at times this season. Stand-ins like Luis Palma and Yang Hyun-jun have struggled to deliver consistently, making it clear that new signings are needed to maintain competitiveness. Luis Palma is likely to exit the club in this window with interest from England, Spain, Italy and Greece for the Honduran International.

Earlier in the month Brendan Rodgers has reportedly met with the club’s largest shareholder Dermot Desmond in Dublin to discuss transfers and contract extensions. Celtic has also been linked with targets like Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mohammed Fuseini, though it remains uncertain if these will result in signings. Fans are eager to see decisive moves, knowing another quality winger could make all the difference in domestic and European competitions this season and beyond.

Alex Valle in Como colours. Photo Fabrizio Romano via social media

The left-back position also needs attention. Greg Taylor’s future is uncertain, and Alex Valle’s loan has been cut short with him undergoing a medical at Italian side Como today ahead of a likely €6 million in the summer .

Kieran Tierney and Scotty Sinclair of Celtic celebrate their team’s third goal scored by Callum McGregor during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on April 29, 2017. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Kieran Tierney is returning and like Jota that has sparked excitement, as his experience and connection to the club make him an ideal fit. Securing such dependable left-back addresses an immediate need and provide long-term stability. The only remaining question on this deal after Brendan Rodgers confirmed that a pre-contract deal had been reached for Tierney to join Celtic in the summer, is if a deal can be done with Arsenal to get him up the road on loan in the meantime. If the finances can be agreed then it would suit all parties.

Broendby IF v Aarhus GF, Oddset Pokal cup football, Broendby, Denmark Brondby, Denmark. 15th, December 2024. Mathias Kvistgaarden 36 of Broendby IF seen during the Danish Oddset Pokalen cup match between Broendby IF and Aarhus GF at Brondby Stadion in Brondby. Denmark, Brondby Gonzales Photo/Rune Mathiesen

Other than additional outgoings Rodgers will look at securing a replacement for Kyogo either in January or alternatively in the summer transfer window. That would mean Daizen Maeda joining Adam Idah as the two centre-forwards.  If a player is coming in it seems likely that he will come from Danish football where Celtic have been heavily linked with interest in two strikers, Brondby’s Mathias Kvistgaarden and Tammer Bany from Randers FC.

FC Nordsjaelland v Randers FC, 3F Superliga Denmark. 16th, September 2024. Tammer Bany 19 of Randers FC seen during the match between FC Nordsjaelland and Randers FC at Right to Dream Park in Farum, Denmark. Gonzales Photo/Dejan Obretkovic

A new striker is critical for Celtic to stay competitive, and the remaining days of the January transfer window will test the club’s ability to strengthen where it matters most. Fans are watching closely, hoping for the right moves to push the team forward.

Conclusion

The next few days will be crucial for Celtic. With so many moving parts, from potential departures to strategic reinforcements, every decision will carry weight. Fans will watch closely, hoping for the best but bracing for the unexpected. Whatever happens, the journey to 2025 promises to be a successful one for the dominant force in Scottish football.

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