Hearts-linked Galymzhan Kenzhebek is a Celtic transfer target after scouts left ‘impressed’

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The transfer window may be closed, but new rumours continue to arise involving Celtic.

The Hoops needed to sign two new wingers in the summer to replace Nicolas Kuhn and Jota, the former leaving for Como and the latter injured.

Multiple targets fell by the wayside, including Jakob Breum, and Celtic reached deadline day without a winger signed.

Finally, Sebastian Tounekti was bought for £5.2m from Hammarby, with Yang Hyun-jun staying put after a failed move to Birmingham City.

Now, it appears Celtic are preparing for the January transfer window by scouting a Kazakhstan international winger.

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Celtic reportedly usurp Hearts in race for winger Kenzhebek

According to freelance journalist Mark Walker, Celtic scouts were ‘impressed’ after watching Yelimay Semey star Galymzhan Kenzhebek.

Kenzhebek is 22 and plays in his homeland Kazakhstan at the moment, but Celtic and reportedly Hearts are interested in the player.

He is out of contract at the end of the calendar year, so can be snapped up on a free in January by the Hoops if they so wish.

Yelimay Semey supposedly rejected three transfer bids from three different Slovakian teams in the summer for the Kazakh international.

Kenzhebek featured for his country in the international break, playing against Belgium and battling alongside Rangers outcast Nicolas Raskin.

He scored his first international goal for Kazakhstan during the summer and has featured in all five 2026 World Cup qualifiers so far.

Kenzhebek’s career stats so far

Celtic need a right winger because Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Tounekti are more naturally left-sided players.

The Hoops have James Forrest, but that’s about it. So is Kenzhebek a right winger? According to Transfermarkt and FotMob, he is not.

Kenzhebek plays more on the left wing for Yelimay Semey, and has so far scored four goals in seven games for the club since signing earlier this year.

He has previously played in Cyprus and Slovakia, and has made 116 career appearances to date