The recent financial figures that outline how much the Celtic board is backing Ange Postecoglou

By Euan Davidson

January 11, 2022

You can’t argue Celtic haven’t done tremendous transfer business since Ange Postecoglou arrived, and the net spend of the club shows that in very clear terms.

When Ange arrived at Parkhead, it was to a squad that needed significant overhaul. However, it was also somewhat hamstrung; after a year without fans, and every club posting losses, it wasn’t a summer where Celtic could splash out. Not without significant sales, anyway.

Significant sales, though, came. The Hoops parted with Odsonne Edouard for an initial £14m fee [Sky Sports]. Brentford, the new Premier League boys, spent £13.5m on Kristoffer Ajer. Those were the headliners, while Ryan Christie was signed for £2.5m by Bournemouth [Sky Sports], £1.5m was made on Jack Hendry [Sun], Vakoun Bayo left for £1.4m [Sun], and Shved left for an undisclosed fee.

Combined, Celtic have made roughly £32.9m since the summer, through player sales. That doesn’t include Shved, but you could round up to £33m if you prefer.

In turn, the Bhoys have spent what they’ve receieved. Kyogo Furuhashi was signed for a reported £4.6m [Sun]. £4m was spent on Carl Starfelt [BBC], £3.5m on Liel Abada [Sun], £2.5m for Giakoumakis [Sky Sports], £2.5m on Juranovic [Sky Sports] and £1m on Hart [Sun]. After that, development fees; 200k on Urhoghide [Scotsman], 300k on Shaw [OneFootball]. Liam Scales cost Celtic half a million from Shamrock Rovers [Sky Sports].

Now, as for January? Celtic have moved quickly. Daizen Maeda is on an initial loan, so his fee won’t count here. Hatate, though, cost a reported “million plus”, and Ideguchi was around £800k. Johnny Kenny cost £125,000 from Sligo Rovers [Irish Independent].

Even if McGree signs for £3m as reported, while Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers are sealed for a combined £12.5m, that’s still a healthy balance sheet.

Celtic net spend; what it means for transfers in January, and the good work already done by Postecoglou and Nicholson

All-in, and if we include the latter three deals, Celtic will have spent approximately £36.6m in transfers. Having already recouped approximately £33m, that means a rough Celtic net spend of £3-5m with Ange Postecoglou.

Quite unreal. And it shows how fruitful the relationship between Michael Nicholson and Ange Postecoglou has been. Celtic have turned a handful of fees into, essentially, an entire starting XI’s worth of talent, with more players to spare.

That drives at one key conclusion you can make about those in charge of transfers at Celtic; they’re committing to Ange Postecoglou’s vision, and what he wants to do in the transfer market. But they’re doing it in a way that’s financially prudent. For a club to spend <£5m net in transfers, with the business we’ve done, would be absolutely incredible.

And it’d be especially worth it, too, if Celtic are able to net £40m from the Champions League, as detailed by my colleague Hamish Carton, in this video.

Are we huge fans of the Celtic board? Absolutely not; and if only the same ambition had been around in seasons prior. A rebuild to this extent might not have been necessary. But in terms of the CEO and manager, absolutely no complaints can be made.

Fans are happy, the board will be happy, and Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou will be happy. These are encouraging times for supporters.

Read more: Report: EFL club emerge as loan suitors for Celtic defender Osaze Urhoghide