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News
- 8 hours ago
Five Celtic players who could leave in January
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 16 Dec 2025 18:16 GMT
- 5 min read
Analysis
Celtic have endured an uncharacteristically underwhelming season and have plenty of uncertainty surrounding the club heading into the January transfer window.
The Bhoys saw manager Brendan Rodgers suddenly resign in October and it took nearly two months before a permanent appointment was made in Wilfried Nancy after Martin O’Neill’s interim period in charge.
However, three straight losses in his first three games saw Nancy immediately come under pressure, with Celtic’s chances of securing a fifth-straight title slipping away.
With much turbulence surrounding the club, a host of stars could soon be heading for the exit door and FootballTransfers takes a look at five players who may leave Celtic in January.
Daizen Maeda
It seems a stunning turn of events that Daizen Maeda can go from Celtic’s top scorer last season to perhaps their most likely candidate to leave in January after a disappointing campaign so far.
Maeda netted 33 goals in all competitions last season but the 28-year-old has scored just five times in the Scottish Premiership this year and is rumoured to be unsettled at the club after a number of approaches were turned down for him in the summer.
The likes of Brentford and Everton have been linked with Maeda and a Premier League switch could work out for all parties, with Celtic keen on receiving a big fee for a player whose contract expires in 2027.
Yang Hyun-jun
Yang Hyun-jun was expected to have a big season for Celtic this year but the Korean international has failed to push on after showing glimpses of his ability last season.
Current ETV
Hyun-jun Yang
F (CRL)
Celtic
Hyun-jun Yang
F (CRL)
Celtic
ETV Range
€1.7M - €2.6M
The 23-year-old scored four times in eight league starts last year but he has not provided a goal or assist this year in nine Scottish Premiership matches and is slowly falling out of favour in the team.
Clubs such as Leeds, Norwich and Birmingham had considered a move for Yang during the summer and it remains to be seen whether they revive their interest in January, with Celtic likely to be open to his sale for the right price.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Despite being a €5.2m arival late in the summer transfer window, Michel-Ange Balikwisha has failed to command a regular spot for Celtic since his signing.
The 24-year-old has played only 237 league minutes since joining from Antwerp and has provided just one assist, with neither Rodgers, O’Neill or Nancy seeing Balikwisha as anything more than a squad option.
Balikwisha will get some time to realign at the African Cup of Nations with DR Congo and both he and Celtic will be hoping for some meaningful minutes and good form to either prove his worth to the Bhoys or attract interest for a quick exit.
Paulo Bernardo
Another player desperately seeking game time is Paulo Bernardo, with the Portuguese star featuring in just 96 minutes of league football this season after falling out of favour at Celtic Park.
Current ETV
Paulo Bernardo
M (C)
Celtic
Paulo Bernardo
M (C)
Celtic
ETV Range
€5.1M - €6.9M
The 23-year-old has always been a bit part player since joining the club in 2023 but his minutes have drastically reduced this season despite finally finding some fitness after injury problems.
Nancy has insisted he is willing to give Bernardo some game time to prove his ability but it appears a foregone conclusion that the midfielder will leave in January if a bid comes in for him.
Hayato Inamura
Celtic added another customary Japanese signing to their squad during the summer in Hayato Inamura, who joined for €300,000 from Albirex Niigata, having only played one season as a professional for the J-League side.
However, Inamura has only played one match for Celtic in August and has not seen the pitch since, suggesting the 23-year-old is not ready to be a first team player as of yet.
Reports have linked Inamura with a return to Japan and FC Tokyo are believed to be in advanced talks over a loan move with an option to buy to mark a quick return home for the defender.
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Read more about:
Premiership
Celtic
Bernardo Paulo
Daizen Maeda
Hayato Inamura
Hyun-jun Yang
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
