Norwegian journalist Freddy Toresen has revealed Bodo/Glimt’s January interest in Joel Mvuka, prior to his move to Celtic.
Mvuka’s switch to Glasgow has… not gone to plan, and that’s putting it extremely kindly.
Perhaps the most damning thing to say about the move is that the best part of it may well be his failed medical, which forced Celtic to renegotiate what was initially a permanent deal worth £3 million.
To rub salt into the winger’s wounds, it now appears that he could’ve been winning Champions League knockout ties instead.
If not, who is?
‘Really strong rumours’ of Joel Mvuka to Bodo/Glimt before Celtic move
Speaking on the Studio Glimt Podcast this week, Toresen said: “There were some really strong rumours, in certain hush-hush circles about a month ago, that Bodø/Glimt wanted to bring Joel Mvuka back from Lorient.
“He ended up at Celtic.
“And almost before I could start digging into it, I confronted Håvard Sakariassen about this rumor I had heard in Spain.
“The only answer I got was “calm, calm, calm..”
“He didn’t confirm anything, but I think he said it because he probably had a gut feeling that Mvuka wouldn’t end up at Bodø/Glimt, but at Celtic…
“It’s at least a matter that was there in January-February, but he had signed for Celtic before I finished researching”.
Mvuka has already played for Bodo/Glimt, spending two years at the Arctic Circle club earlier in his career before being picked up by Lorient.
He was a late substitute for the Bodo side that won 3-1 at Celtic Park against Ange Postecoglou’s Hoops in 2022.
Mvuka was thrown straight into the starting XI for his Celtic debut against Dundee, but was hooked at half-time after a disappointing showing.
Martin O’Neill ruthlessly then left him out of the matchday squad for the team’s next four games before reintroducing him for Celtic’s Scottish Cup win at Ibrox, when Neil Lennon voiced serious concerns over the 23-year-old’s cameo.
What would your message to Dermot Desmond be now that the transfer window has closed
Outcasts in a bloated squad for Celtic
It looks extremely unlikely that Mvuka will be at Celtic beyond this season, and he isn’t their only recent signing who is likely to be discarded after an unimpactful spell.
Junior Adamu has also faced harsh criticism since being signed on loan in January. He hasn’t started a game since being hooked at half-time in the Hoops’ 2-2 draw at Ibrox.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha was supposed to be one of the headline signings from last summer, but he too has failed to make an impact on the wing, appearing just once in 2026.
Speaking of the summer, Hayato Inamura, Shin Yamada and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey all immediately left Celtic in January after being brought in six months earlier.
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