Luis Palma has given a heartfelt goodbye to Celtic after officially leaving the club.
Lech Poznan activated their option to buy Palma, smashing their club record transfer to buy the winger after his stellar form on loan in Poland.
At this point, it’s been 17 months since his last appearance for Celtic, against Aston Villa in the Champions League last January.
His classy farewell message makes it clear that he won’t forget his time in Glasgow.
Luis Palma’s Celtic exit has been confirmed ✅
Luis Palma on leaving Celtic: ‘I will always be one of you’
Palma wrote on Instagram: “Today, I say goodbye to a club that marked a very special chapter in my life.
“Since I was a child, I dreamed of playing in stadiums like Celtic Park, experiencing unforgettable European nights, and representing an institution as great as Celtic F.C.
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“By the grace of God, that dream became a reality.
“I would like to sincerely thank everyone who made my journey at this club possible: the board, coaches, teammates, technical staff, and every person who works behind the scenes.
“Thank you for your trust, support, and for helping me grow both as a player and as a person. I leave with unforgettable memories and friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
“To the fans, thank you from the bottom of my heart. From day one, I felt your love and unwavering support.
“I will always be one of you.”
The buyout clause in Palma’s loan was worth €4 million, more than double their existing record transfer fee.
He registered double figures in both goals and assists as they prevailed in a dramatic race in the Polish top-flight, so the club understandably viewed him as worth the money.
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Luis Palma’s Celtic career
Celtic paid £3.5 million to take Palma from Aris Thessaloniki in Brendan Rodgers’ first summer transfer window. He was, essentially, the Jota replacement.
A goal in his first league appearance at Fir Park seemed to indicate that he was the business, and he followed that up with two goals in the Champions League group stage.
He ended his first season with his goal tally in double digits, but in 12 appearances in the following campaign, he ended up with none.
It was quite the surprise when then-Conference league holders Olympiacos took him on loan, but he finally seems to have a home in Poland.
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