Was the grass greener for the players who left Celtic in 2019?

Neil Lennon’s first transfer window back at Celtic in summer 2019 brought some very big surprises.

A whole host of big names came and went from the Hoops as they looked to rebuild under a new boss. Where did the main players from last season go and how are they getting on now?

Celtic 2019 transfer window departures rundown

Kieran Tierney – Arsenal

The hardest to take was Tierney’s record move to English giants Arsenal for £25 million.

Injuries have reduced his playing time but he has still managed five league games with the Gunners.

Kieran Tierney walks off injured during an Arsenal match. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Following another three months out, Tierney will come back fitter and stronger for new manager Mikel Arteta.

Cristian Gamboa – Vfl Bochum

Unlike Tierney, Gamboa was one man that the Celtic fans shrugged at getting rid of.

The Costa Rican now plays in Germany with Bochum, making 11 appearances. The free transfer has scored one goal for the second tier side with one assist.

Emilio Izaguirre – CD Motagua

The Celtic fan favourite hardly featured during his second spell at the Celts and a move home was on the cards. Izzy has made six appearances for the Honduras side in the league and has provided one assist.

Mikael Lustig – KAA Gent

Another Hoops stalwart who knew his time was up joined the formidable Belgian outfit on a free. Lustig has played only played 90 minutes 63% of the time though in the league for Gent.

Mikael Lustig was one of the big hitters to leave Celtic in 2019. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, he has made 28 appearances in all competitions, including the Europa League, providing five assists.

Dedryck Boyata – Hertha Berlin

The Belgian international finally got the move away he was longing for by joining Hertha on a free. Boyata has made 14 Bundesliga appearances, scoring one and assisting one.

However, the cash rich Germans might be looking to spend big over the next two windows.

Jeremy Toljan – US Sassuolo

The Borussia Dortmund man was hardly impressive during his six month loan in Glasgow.

He is back out temporarily with Italian Serie A outfit Sassuolo and is getting game time. Toljan has made 16 appearances in the league, scoring and assisting once but has picked up six yellow cards.

There is an option to buy for the Italians at the end of his loan deal.

Oliver Burke – Alavés

The Scotland international finally thinks he has found home with the La Liga outfit.

Oliver Burke thinks he is settling in at La Liga outfit, Alavés. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Despite not finishing the 90 minutes in 76% of his appearances, he has featured 15 times this season. Burke hasn’t scored but was able to assist one goal during his current loan spell from West Brom.

Timothy Weah – LOSC Lille

Timo showed early promise with The Bhoys that just wasn’t built upon during his loan spell. It appears that this has continued into his permanent summer move to Lille.

The American international has only made two appearances in Ligue 1 this season.

Filip Benkovic – Leicester City

Benkovic is the only player on the list who hasn’t moved club since leaving the Hoops.

The Croatian is still with the Foxes but has rarely featured for Brendan Rodgers’ side. He made a rare start at the weekend in the FA Cup but has since gone on to injure himself again.

All things considered, it appears the Hoops were right not to extend his stay in some form.

Transfers