Celtic have made their fair share of outcast signings.
One look at Celtic’s most recent transfer window shows you Shin Yamada, Hayato Inamura and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who all weren’t even registered for Brendan Rodgers’ Europa League squad despite being signed this summer.
The 2023 window was similar: See Marco Tilio and Hyeok-kyu Kwon. Just because Celtic sign a player doesn’t mean that they will play.
At times, players who don’t get any game time can become ironic cult heroes thanks to the mystique that their invisibility can create. James McCarthy, for example.
Another player who fit this mould was signed in Rodgers’ first spell – and over eight years on from making the move to Glasgow, he has reflected on his uneventful spell.
Former Celtic defender reflects on Hoops career
Celtic’s biggest challenge towards the back end of their time in Rodgers’ first spell was keeping the Hoops boss happy with his squad.
One signing from his second spell arrived to a fair bit of excitement, but it didn’t work out at all.
READ MORE: David Strelec directly addresses Celtic summer transfer talk after ‘complicated’ situation
Marvin Compper was brought to the Hoops from RB Leipzig, as a left-sided centre back aged 33.
He was never signing for the long-term, but with European experience and even a Germany cap, he was expected to contribute. Instead, he made just one appearance, against Greenock Morton in a Scottish Cup tie.
Speaking to The Celtic Way, Compper was graceful and not bitter at all about his time in Glasgow, admitting that he understood his lack of game time, saying: “The first four, five months, they did not work out the way we had hoped.
“At that moment – with a player who is turning 33 years old and not getting any younger – the belief in the ability of my body to cope with the level of games and the rhythm that Brendan (Rodgers) was expecting wasn’t there anymore.
“That summer, the club told me that if I was open to a change, they would not stand in my way, but I didn’t want to give up like this. I told them ‘I’m going to stay and fight for my place’, but the club bringing in new players made this fight more difficult.
“At that time, I was playing some games for the reserves, and had some good performances under my belt, which displayed the physical stability that I was gaining back.
“Unfortunately, when you’re not in the plans of a club anymore, whether it was Brendan or later under Neil, then that’s that, which was completely understandable because of the first half of 2018.
“It was sad for me and my time at Celtic, but I completely understand.”
Experienced 30-plus Celtic signings in recent times
Kasper Schmeichel may be facing questions over his form at the minute, but there is no doubting the quality he has shown since joining the Hoops aged 37 last year.
He is aiming to replicate Joe Hart’s legacy at Celtic Park, after his signing at the age of 34.
Aaron Mooy was one of Celtic’s best free transfers of recent times. He was aged 31 when he reunited with Ange Postecoglou for a year before retiring.
In truth however, signings of this ilk have been rare in recent times, with Celtic prioritising resale value. Compper is perhaps a suggestion that this is for the better.
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