Celtic’s recruitment has been pretty woeful this calendar year, and it’s one many fans will want to forget as quickly as possible.
From the January 2025 transfer window, when Jota returned to Celtic, to the signing of Kelechi Iheanacho after the summer 2025 transfer window closed.
67 Hail Hail ranks Celtic’s signings in 2025, from best to worst.
Poll: Which position do Celtic need to strengthen in the 2026 January transfer window?
1. Marcelo Saracchi
This might surprise some people, but Marcelo Saracchi deserves his flowers for looking pretty solid every time he has been handed minutes this season.
Saracchi signed on a season-long loan deal from Boca Juniors and was seen as a back-up option to Kieran Tierney.
But he has proved on several occasions that he probably deserves to be the regular starter. The only issue is the fact that he can’t stay out of the treatment room.
Would you take Marcelo Saracchi at Celtic permanently?
2. Benjamin Nygren
It’s been a mixed start from Benjamin Nygren, but he has popped up with some crucial goals for the Hoops, including helping Nancy win his first game against Aberdeen on Sunday.
| Benjamin Nygren’s games for Celtic | Goals | Assists | Total minutes |
| 28 | 8 | 5 | 1,671 |
3. Jota
The fact that Jota is ahead of many summer signings, especially the wingers, tells you everything about how they have performed since joining the champions of Scotland.
It was a dream return for Jota when he scored on his second debut against Motherwell; it’s just a shame that he picked up such a big injury, and probably won’t be seen again until next season.
| Jota’s games for Celtic | Goals | Assists |
| 16 | 5 | 2 |
4. Kieran Tierney
It has been a slow process for Tierney on his return to Celtic because of his past injury issues, and how his body is trying to adjust to the rigours of the game again.
But under Nancy, it could be argued that Tierney has been Celtic’s best performer, and hopefully, he can step it up a level in the coming months.
5. Kelechi Iheanacho
Another one who has visited the treatment room far too often, but when he has been on the pitch for Celtic, he has certainly made the team better.
In the Europa League, Kelechi Iheanacho has been unlucky not to score a few more goals, if it wasn’t for some bad VAR calls or unlucky offside calls.
But Iheanacho’s hold-up play is certainly better than what anybody else in the squad can provide, and just like Tierney, fans will be hoping the best is yet to come.
| Kelechi Iheanacho’s games for Celtic | Starts | Goals | Assists | Total minutes |
| 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 533 |
6. Jeffrey Schlupp
Signed in January. Jeffrey Schlupp only spent six months at Celtic after Alex Valle left for Como.
Initially, he dethroned Greg Taylor from the starting spot and looked strong under Rodgers.
But eventually, it was Taylor who ended the campaign as the main guy, as Schlupp’s form dipped, and Celtic opted against signing him on a free transfer when his Crystal Palace contract expired in the summer.
He is now at Norwich City.
7. Sebastian Tounekti
If this had been made earlier in the season, then Sebastian Tounekti would have been higher up, because he looked lively in his opening weeks in Scotland.
But in recent times, Tounekti has been all smoke and no fire, and it has frustrated the supporters.
Now at the Africa Cup of Nations with Tunisia, it will be interesting to see how the ball-carrying forward fares under Nancy, because he doesn’t seem to suit that wing-back role.
Sebastian Tounekti’s Celtic message before AFCON absence
8. Callum Osmand
Signed from Fulham’s academy, at first, the suggestion was that Callum Osmand would jump straight into the first team.
But Brendan Rodgers hardly used him before Martin O’Neill brought him to life, which saw him score against Rangers in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Unfortunately, Osmand has only played two matches, and a hamstring injury is expected to keep him out of action for a long period of time.
9. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
You just have to question, what on earth was the point? A loan signing from Manchester City, and apparently, he isn’t better than Dane Murray or even Anthony Ralston.
From the limited time Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has spent on the pitch, he has looked like a competent player, but he will probably be sent back to his parent club when the transfer window re-opens.
10. Shin Yamada
The same as Simpson-Pusey. Perhaps someone who deserves more game time, and a player who is a symbol of how there was a clear disconnect between Rodgers and the Celtic board over transfers, is Shin Yamada.
There was some energy to his play in pre-season; he started against Livingston in August and showed promising signs.
But like many of them, he has hardly been seen, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he is moved on in the winter.
11. Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Unfortunately for Michel-Ange Balikwisha, his Celtic debut was that drab goalless draw against Rangers at Ibrox at the start of the season.
A supposed winger, Balikwisha, just doesn’t take his man on, and his performances have been as dry and as slow as somebody walking across the Sahara Desert.
12. Hayato Inamura
Hardly seen. Hardly played. Hayato Inamura will feel hard done by, and you don’t blame the player because he looked good in pre-season. Only lowly ranked because he hasn’t featured as much.
Hayato Inamura set for a January Celtic exit. What did you make of the very little we saw of him?
13. Ross Doohan
Ross Doohan is yet to play on his return to Celtic, and as a third-choice goalkeeper, you can’t exactly rank higher than anybody else; that’s the only reason he gets the bottom spot.
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