Last summer saw some big names leave Celtic Park, many of whom moved down south for opportunities in England. Here is a look at how those players have settled in at their new clubs.
Kristoffer Ajer
During his five years at Celtic, Kristoffer Ajer developed into an excellent defender who has all the attributes to succeed at the highest level. The Norwegian began his career as a midfielder but a switch in positions is proving a smart move.
Ajer played 176 times for Celtic and was part of three treble winning teams. He was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Season in the 2018-19 campaign, and he has gotten better with every season.
The 6ft 6 in defender signed for Brentford back in July for an undisclosed fee. He has started six games for the new Premier League club in the opening nine matches of the campaign, including their 2-0 victory over Arsenal. The Bees are eighth in the EPL relegation odds from Betfair and with Ajer at the top of his game, there is a good chance he will help keep them up.
Odsonne Edouard
Goal machine Odsonne Edouard took the opportunity to work under Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace when the Eagles landed the Frenchman earlier this summer. He got off to a dream start, scoring two goals from off the bench on his debut against Tottenham at Selhurst Park. His brace came in a 3-0 victory over Spurs.
Edouard is now a regular in the starting XI in Vieira’s team. It is going to be interesting to see how many goals he scores this season. He has netted three times in six games so far. Once he settles at the club, he is sure to be a regular scorer.
The 23-year-old is a big loss to Celtic as he scored 88 goals in 179 appearances. It would be no surprise to see him go on to play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe in the next few years. He has so much ability and he has not stopped improving yet.
Ryan Christie
Scotland international Ryan Christie spent six years at Celtic between 2015 and 2021. He is now at Championship side Bournemouth after moving to the Cherries for £1.5 million. The midfielder should excel in the second tier of English football for Scott Parker’s side.
Christie has played seven times already for his new club. He is still searching for his first goal, but he has assisted six times. Bournemouth have got off to a fast start this season and top the standings. They are looking good to earn promotion into the Premier League at the end of the campaign.
Some of his new teammates have been hailing the performances of the former Celts player. He has started well, and he could be set to be one of the leading players in the Championship this season.
Good luck to all three of the above Celtic players. They all gave their best in a Hoops shirt and deserve to have success in their careers.
Tom Wilson is a regular contributor the site.