WHO IS LEAVING CELTIC THIS SUMMER?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Jul 14
- 7 min read
We’ve talked plenty over the last few weeks about some of the players we hope to see arriving at Celtic Park soon.
However, in order to make room for, what I think will be at least another 4 or 5 new faces before the end of August, quite a few players will need move in the opposite direction.
So, who stays, who goes? Let’s look at the players most likely to depart Celtic in the weeks ahead.
Who is Staying and who is Leaving Celtic: A Player by Player Breakdown
Goalkeepers
One area where Celtic do not have to worry at the moment is in the goalkeeping department. Despite his advancing years, we still have one of Europe’s best in Kasper Schmeichel as our number one.
Viljami Sinisalo showed enough during his brief run in the team towards the end of last season that he is more than capable of deputizing.
I’m also confident he will, in the fullness of time, step up and become Celtic’s number one keeper.
Ross Doohan is there to make up the numbers, but he’s certainly good enough to step in at a domestic level in the very unlikely event that both our main goalkeepers get injured at the same time.
Defense
This is where things start to get a bit more complicated. So far we have said farewell to Greg Taylor, who chose not to extend his contract. Maik Nawrocki is on loan at Hanover, and if he does well, will most likely stay there. There is an option to make the deal permanent next summer should Hanover wish to do so.
Gustaf Lagerbielke is now a Braga player, having left Celtic on a permanent deal last week.
Stephen Welsh seemed like the most likely candidate to follow Nawrocki and Lagerbielke out the door. There has been interest from clubs in Italy in him before. He also now at an age where, as sad as it is to say this, he probably needs to accept that he needs to leave Celtic for the sake of his own career.
Unfortunately, the injury he picked up against Cork City last week, which may require surgery to correct, could well see him stuck in limbo at Celtic until at least January.
At right back, Celtic seem to have things well covered. Our first choice, Canadian international Alistair Johnston continues to grow as a player and a leader on the pitch. He shows no signs of wanting away.
Likewise Anthony Ralston seems quite content to play the role of domestic deputy when necessary. It certainly hasn't stopped him getting a game for Scotland.
On the left we have Kieran Tierney. However it remains to be seen if we will bring in another left back as cover for him, or if new signing Hayato Inamura can do enough during pre season to prove he warrants that secondary left-back slot.
In central defence, concerns remain about the injury record of Cameron Carter-Vickers. There are also persistent rumors linking the player with a move, most likely back to England. However, the big American has expressed no desire to leave Celtic, and certainly the club would be in no rush to sell our best centre back.
Liam Scales, I think, falls into the same category as Anthony Ralston. He is happy to be at Celtic even if it means he doesn't necessarily get to play every week.
At the moment he has the chance to stake a claim for the left-centre back slot in the starting eleven.
However, this is another area where Celtic seem almost certain to add more talent before the transfer window closes.
This brings me to the curious case of Auston Trusty. Recruited by Brendan Rodgers last summer, as an intended solution to our persistent problem of finding a proper partner for Carter-Vickers in central defense, Trusty hasn't had the best debut season.
He has, at times, looked lightweight, clumsy in possession and somewhat error prone.
He has also, however, made some crucial tackles and shown defensive poise at important moments throughout his Celtic career so far. An especially heroic performance away at Atalanta in the Champions League last season remains the highlight of his time with us to date.
Even if we do sign additional defenders over the next few weeks, I don't see Brendan Rodgers ditching a player he signed less than a year ago.
Despite concerns about the flaws in his game, Trusty doesn't seem to be going anywhere this summer.
Midfield
Much like the aforementioned Trusty, Celtic’s record signing Arne Engels also endured a prolonged period of criticism last season. However, I think he did just fine.
Were it not for his price tag, which, if we’re being honest, was because Celtic dithered on getting the deal done, then I doubt half as much fuss would have been made about a player who made a solid start to his Celtic career despite taking time to find his feet.
Reo Hatate is in a similar position to Cameron Carter-Vickers. Despite plenty of speculation linking him with a move away from Celtic, no actual bids have come in, and the player has not expressed any wish to leave.
There was talk in Japan a few months ago, though it remains speculative and unconfirmed, that Hatate was considering leaving Celtic this summer. He opted against it when he saw how horrifically bad things turned for former team-mate Kyogo Furuhashi at Rennes. The grass isn't always greener as they say…
This next season will be an important one for Luke McCowan. He showed plenty of early promise after he joined Celtic in a surprise move last August. However, he was a bit part player towards the end of last season and that is something he will look to change this term. He isn't going anywhere for now, but if he’s still in the same position next summer, then that may well change.
It’s a very similar story for Paulo Bernardo. The Portuguese under-21 captain missed a significant part of last season through injury, and struggled to get back into the team thereafter. Like McCowan, this coming season could make or break his Celtic career.
I think it goes without saying that our captain Callum McGregor is going nowhere. Indeed, he deserves immense credit for the numerous times he has, I am sure, turned down opportunities to make more money and probably have an easier life elsewhere, in order to stay and continue to lead Celtic.
At the opposite end of the scale, we have Hyeok-Kyu Kwon. Despite loan spells at St. Mirren and Hibernian, the Korean midfielder seems to have failed to adapt to the Scottish game. He was rather unceremoniously left out of Celtic’s pre-season trip to Portugal last week, and looks likely to leave very soon.
Austria Vienna has emerged as a possible destination for him, and I hope it works out. You certainly can't fault his effort or attitude, but sometimes it just doesn't work out for players at Celtic.
Finally in the midfield we have Odin Thiago Holm. Despite some early promise after arriving in the summer of 2023, the Norwegian failed to make the breakthrough and was subsequently loaned out to Los Angeles FC.
This loan deal expires in December but it seems very unlikely we’ll see him in a Celtic starting eleven again. He will almost certainly leave on a permanent deal in January.
Forwards
Nicholas Kuhn officially joined Como from Celtic a few days ago. Whilst an undoubtedly talented player, questions remained about his attitude and his consistency. I think we did well to make such a big profit on a player whose career could go either way over the next couple of years.
Most likely there will be a number of other forward players following him out the door in the next few weeks.
Within the past 24 hours, reports have emerged that Marco Tillio, Celtic’s Australian left winger may once again return to his homeland and join Melbourne City. He enjoyed a very successful time there on loan last season.
At this point, it might be best for all concerned if Celtic can work out a deal to let the player return home permanently. There’s definitely a talent there, but much like Kwon, his ability to acclimatise to Scotland appears to be an issue.
Luis Palma is also highly unlikely to play for Celtic again. The Honduran is a frustrating character. Again, there were flashes of early brilliance in his first few games, but that early optimism soon faded. He also lacks pace, and for the way Celtic play, having fast players on the flanks is absolutely essential.
He’ll probably go on to do very well somewhere else, but unfortunately his style of play just doesn't seem a good fit for Celtic.
Jota will, according to the latest injury updates, be back in a Celtic shirt early next year.
Reports emerging from England this morning suggest that a number of clubs may be interested in Celtic’s Korean winger Hyun-Jun Yang. Much like Palma, Yang is a player who shows flashes of absolute brilliance, but consistency is his biggest problem.
However, Brendan Rodgers clearly still values him enough to keep him involved, and he’s played a big part in pre-season so far. I’d say his chances of staying at Celtic beyond this summer are, for the time being 50/50.
Adam Idah is less than a year into his Celtic contract, and will feel he has a point to prove. The honeymoon period is well and truly over for the big Irish striker, and Celtic fans will expect him to step up and prove he was worth his hefty price tag in the months ahead. For the time being though, he’s definitely going nowhere.
Daizen Maeda cannot be allowed to leave this summer under any circumstances. His goals, his pace, his dogged determination are attributes we would struggle to replace no matter how much money we got for him.
Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren are both just in the door, so we’ll need to wait and see how they settle in the coming season.
James Forrest is entering what may prove to be his final season in professional football, if not almost certainly his final year at Celtic. Yet the most decorated player in our history shows no signs of slowing down despite recently turning 34. He will, once again, be vital part of our squad for the season ahead.
Finally we come to Johnny Kenny. The young Irish striker seems likely to go out on loan again this summer, with Celtic looking to sign at least one, possibly 2 more strikers this month.
However, Brendan Rodgers has spoken highly of the player and encouraged him to sign a contract extension. So, it may not be time up for him at Celtic just yet.
