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News
- 5 minutes ago
Celtic striker bombshell drops as club record deal CLOSE
Cameron Smith
- 5 Jan 2026 09:22 GMT
- 6 min read
News
Celtic transfer target Louis Munteanu is reportedly on the verge of completing a club record move to MLS side D.C United.
The Romania international was heavily linked with a transfer to Celtic Park last summer, amid the club’s pursuit of a new centre forward, and the Hoops even saw an €8 million bid rejected by CFR Cluj.
Current ETV
Louis Munteanu
F (C)
CFR Cluj
Louis Munteanu
F (C)
CFR Cluj
ETV Range
€5.4M - €7.2M
Munteanu scored 25 goals in 42 games across all competitions last season and he was earmarked as a top target by the Celtic hierarchy before they withdrew from negotiations over a deal during the latter stages of the summer window.
The 23-year-old was then expected to join Eredivisie giants Ajax, but the deal collapsed at the last minute and he was forced to remain at Cluj for the first half of the 2025-26 season.
However, Munteanu is now close to leaving the club in order to become D.C United’s all-time record signing.
Fox Sports report that D.C United are on the verge of landing Munteanu for a fee of €8.6m - which will eclipse the €5.5m paid to sign Christian Benteke from Crystal Palace in 2022.
In fact, the Romanian is expected to replace Benteke as D.C United’s starting striker, with Rene Weiler’s side opting against agreeing a contract extension with the ex-Liverpool star, who was the top goalscorer in the MLS last season.
Louis Munteanu to join D.C United
News that Munteanu is set to join D.C United will come as a hammer blow to Celtic, with the Scottish giants reportedly eager to bring him to the club in 2026 amid their increasing desire to sign a new centre forward.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Johnny Kenny, Shin Yamada and Callum Osmand, the four strikers currently at Celtic Park, have scored a measly nine goals in 41 games between them so far this term and signing an upgrade is deemed to be a priority for January.
With Munteanu set to be off the market, Celtic may be forced to pursue a deal for either Evan Ferguson or Wessam Abou Ali - both of whom have been linked with a transfer to Wilfried Nancy’s side in recent weeks.
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