Celtic forced to make new transfer plan as €4.7m deal agreed

19 Jul 2026 09:59 BST | 4 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

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Celtic have been forced to pursue a new striker target following reports that Plymouth Argyle star Lorent Tolaj has reached an agreement to join Bristol City for €4.7 million.

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The 24-year-old, who scored 22 goals across all competitions last season, has been heavily linked with a move to Celtic Park in recent months and it’s believed that he had been identified as one of Martin O’Neill’s top targets amid the club’s pursuit of a new centre forward.

Current ETV

Lorent Tolaj

F (C)

Plymouth

Lorent Tolaj

F (C)

Plymouth

ETV Range

€0.9M - €1.3M

Tolaj was one of League One’s standout performers last season and Celtic were keen to bring him to Glasgow this summer, with Daizen Maeda expected to be sold and Kelechi Iheanacho having departed upon the expiration of his contract at the end of June.

The Scottish giants have already bolstered their attacking roster with the signing of Qarabag forward Camilo Duran, but they will be required to pursue an alternative target to Tolaj as he has reached an agreement to join Championship side Bristol City.

That is according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, who posted on X: “Bristol City are closing in on the signing of Plymouth Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj. The clubs have agreed a fee of £4m, plus add-ons. Tolaj, 24, has also completed a medical.”

Tolaj will become Bristol City’s eighth signing of the summer transfer window when his move to Ashton Gate is confirmed, with the club quick to back new boss Michael Skubala in the market ahead of his first campaign in charge.

© IMAGO - Lorent Tolaj is set to join Bristol City

Martin O’Neill confirms Celtic transfer talks

The aforementioned Duran is the only signing that Celtic have added to their first-team squad so far this season, although O’Neill has confirmed that talks are underway for additional deals.

Speaking after their 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, the Celtic manager said: “There has been progress [but] no timeframe. There’s no point saying Monday if they come in on Wednesday instead.

“But what you don’t want to do, as we just found out in one where we thought we had a deal with Iheanacho and it didn’t go, we actually thought it was something we’d sort out.

“I don’t want to say something is absolutely until it’s absolutely done, but progress is definitely being made.”

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