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Analysis
- 1 hours ago
Huge Celtic blunder as loan flop is now a 'remarkable' €8m sensation
Tom Weber
- Updated: 21 Jan 2026 18:08 GMT
- 4 min read
News
Celtic flop Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is the new darling of FC Koln after joining on loan from Manchester City.
The 20-year-old initially moved to Glasgow in the summer, but his spell at Celtic was cut short in early January due to his lack of playing time. The England youth international made just one senior appearance for the Hoops, playing out of position at right-back against Kilmarnock in November.
Looking back now, it is quite bizarre that Simpson-Pusey was a forgotten man at Parkhead. He has hit like a bomb in Koln since joining on 6 January in a loan deal that can be made permanent for €8 million in the summer. Man City clearly still rate him, too, as they made sure to include a buy-back clause in the transfer.
Current ETV
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
D (C)
Koln
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
D (C)
Koln
ETV Range
€3.8M - €5.7M
Despite barely playing in the first half of the season, the centre-back has immediately become an indispensable part of Koln's team, brought about by the club's defensive injury crisis, which made the signing of new players imperative this month.
Simpson-Pusey has already clocked three full 90 minutes since joining, and he has hardly put a foot wrong, despite playing against Bayern Munich in his second game. Promoted Koln managed to keep the game at 1-1 until the 71st minute before conceding two late goals.
Koln chiefs rave about Simpson-Pusey
The youngster's emergence hasn't gone unnoticed in the media. BILD has covered Simpson-Pusey and carries quotes from head coach Lukas Kwasniok and sporting director Thomas Keller, who have nothing but praise for the defender.
"At least he knows the lads' names now," Kwasniok joked after Saturday's comeback win over Mainz, which was Simpson-Pusey's third game in a hectic eight days, and added: "I thank everyone involved, this was a very good transfer!
"What Jahmai has accomplished in these three games is remarkable. He spent half a year in Glasgow searching for guidance and without any clear purpose.
"And now he's playing three 90-minute matches. He hardly has to sprint because he anticipates situations very well and can therefore handle them with stoic calm."
Keller similarly waxed lyrical about him. "It's impressive that he's holding his own here," he said. "You can tell the lads are looking for him with the ball, and a high level of trust has developed in a very short time.
"We don't need to go into absolute superlatives now, but we already knew he was a very good footballer."
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