Sebastian Tounekti – Celtic’s woeful window worsens

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·1 September 2025

Sebastian Tounekti – Celtic’s woeful window worsens

Celtic’s winger hunt has become less a transfer strategy and more a tragicomedy, with each twist providing fresh material for those of us trying to keep the faith (and a straight face)…

Hammarby’s Sebastian Tounekti tests a shot against GAIS goalkeeper Mergim Krasniqi during Sundays Allsvenskan in the match between Hammarby and GAIS at 3Arena STOCKHOLM SWEDEN Photo Henrik Montgomery IMAGO/TT

The latest act in this saga concerns Sebastian Tounekti, the winger whose potential arrival had some of us –okay maybe it was just me – clinging to rumours as if they were gospel, mainly because the source of said gospel had 75,000 followers on Facebook. A more reliable yardstick than most tabloids, some might argue!

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So, yes, Tounekti.

At first, it looked like the Swedish press and fan accounts were ushering him straight into Glasgow for a medical. Then reality struck. Expressen via the Daily Record now report that Hammarby have rejected a third Celtic bid, reported to be £5.5m, and their Sporting Director is doing his best to sound polite while hammering the door shut.

“Nothing is set in stone in this business,” he admitted, before twisting the knife.

“We have had a great dialogue with Seb and a clear dialogue with Celtic that we have no ambition to sell. It is not that we have made a counter-offer. We have really just said no.”

Sebastian Tounekti of Hammarby during the UEFA Conference League qualifier football match between Hammarby and Rosenborg on August 14, 2025 in Stockholm. Photo: Emma Wallskog Imago BILDBYRAN

Ouch. No counter-offer. Just… no. That’s the transfer equivalent of ghosting someone after the first date.

And all this comes hot on the heels of the Kasper Dolberg deal falling apart and the fallback option of Sekou Mara disappearing into thin air.

Sekou Mara of Southampton warms up prior to the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Manchester City at Friends Provident St. Mary’s Stadium on April 08, 2023 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Journalist Mark Hendry reported earlier today that Mara was a loan option, now it seems he’s is Auxerre-bound, which is no great loss, to be fair. His scoring record made Tony Cascarino look prolific, so perhaps Celtic dodged a bullet there. Still, the rumour barely had time to settle before it evaporated.

In fairness, the story isn’t completely dead. Tounekti himself has been refreshingly honest about the situation.

Sirius Isak Bjerkebo and Hammarby’s Sebastian Tounekti during the football match in Allsvenskan between Sirius and Hammarby on August 24, 2025 in Uppsala Photo TOBIAS STERNER

“I think the interest is still there, and I know they probably won’t give up yet. That’s what I’ve heard. They’re going to go all in. So we’ll see what happens. I’m very happy here, but it’s great to see such interest. It’s difficult to answer that right now. Things can happen quickly in football.

“The window closes tomorrow. I understand Hammarby. They want to win matches in the autumn and I’ve been given a good role in the team. So, I understand Hammarby’s side. But there’s a lot of money involved and it will be exciting to see what happens.”

Brendan Rodgers during the Premier League match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on August 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Translation? Celtic still have time to chuck more cash at it because it seems the player at least is keen to move..

And if they don’t, I’ll be filing my next article under “Transfer Window Therapy,” complete with a whisky chaser and language unfit for print.

Niall J

Celtic in the Eighties – Out on Friday!

All pre-order copies will be posted out by tomorrow. Celtic in the Eighties is published on Friday 5 September by Celtic Star Books. All orders already received will receive a copy signed by Danny McGrain however the signed copies have now sold out.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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Sebastian Tounekti – Celtic’s woeful window worsens | OneFootball

Sebastian Tounekti – Celtic’s woeful window worsens

Celtic’s winger hunt has become less a transfer strategy and more a tragicomedy, with each twist providing fresh material for those of us trying to keep the faith (and a straight face)…

OneFootball Videos

Celtic in the Eighties – Out on Friday!

Celtic

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