Report: Celtic exile Jack Hendry to join Belgian side permanently

By Euan Davidson

January 23, 2021

Celtic defender Jack Hendry has enjoyed a career renaissance in Belgium.

Hendry’s revival could net Celtic a £1.75m fee, with the Daily Mail reporting that Oostende may take up an option on the Scotsman’s loan deal.

The former Dundee man, on loan at Oostende in the Belgian top-flight, has been impressive away from the Hoops. 90min recently linked the defender to a raft of top clubs, including Aston Villa, Werder Bremen and Wolves.

It looks more likely, now, that Hendry will in fact join KV Oostende permanently. The Belgian side, who sit 8th in the Jupiler Pro League [BBC], have been impressed with the Scotsman’s work-rate and defensive prowess.

On the back page of today’s Scottish Daily Mail [23/01/21], reporter Stephen McGowan wrote:

“A senior source at Oostende has confirmed the existence of a purchase option in the Hendry loan deal with Celtic.

“And, with clubs on the continent taking an interest in the Scot’s displays, they intend to purchase the option to sign the powerful defender on a permanent basis.”

Celtic centre-back Jack Hendry in action for KV Oostende / (Photo by KURT DESPLENTER/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Celtic man Jack Hendry may net Bhoys a profit

It seems like a ludicrous scenario given some of Hendry’s displays at Celtic Park.

At the start of 2020, he was on loan in Australia and suffered a horrible injury. This was after a rough spell under Brendan Rodgers and then Neil Lennon. The latter seemingly had little faith in the former Wigan man, loaning him out twice.

The Hoops supporters had little to no faith in Hendry’s game, comparing him to a “giraffe on roller-skates”, and saying he had no future at the club.

A series of costly errors turned the fans against the Scotland international. Now, with Celtic lacking quality in defence, it’s easy to look at Hendry’s revival in Europe and wonder if he’d be a help.

At Oostende, he’s part of one of Belgium’s meanest defences. While the club sit 8th, they have only conceded 28 in 22 games. That’s the same as second-placed Genk [BBC].

The idea of Celtic actually making a profit on Hendry would’ve been unthinkable less than a year ago.

But it’s Oostende who are thinking long-term here; if the Celtic loanee continues to impress, it’s them who will make the bigger profit in the future.