Every summer, there tends to be a fairly high turnover of players at Celtic. Several of these departures are deemed surplus to requirements as they leave Parkhead seeking employment elsewhere.
In 2024, the club made several key additions including Adam Idah, Arne Engels, Auston Trusty and Luke McGowan, which paved the way for several outgoings. Whilst Joe Hart has landed a fairly comfy spot on the Match of the Day sofa and Matt O’Riley has made an instant impact in the Premier League for Brighton, there are many former Hoops who have made lower-profile switches and have had to remain fairly patient as they await the opportunity to impress. We take a look at how some of this contingent of recently released players are progressing in their new surroundings.
Bosun Lawal
Having impressed on loan at Fleetwood last season, Bosun Lawal understandably caught the attention of lower-end Championship clubs with the Irishman eventually opting to join Stoke for a fee of around £3million.
Unfortunately, the 21-year-old has yet to make his senior debut for the Potters with his medical having flagged up an unknown stress fracture in his lower back. However, the midfielder is reportedly building up his fitness and is back on the grass. With the Staffordshire outfit going well under new boss Narcis Pelach, Lawal may have to wait a little longer to make his debut, however, he is viewed as a long-term asset by the club and is likely to feature going forward.
Tomoki Iwata
The 27-year-old has enjoyed plenty of success during his career including being awarded the J-League MVP back in 2022. Although he made fewer than 25 appearances for Celtic, Iwata has made a decent start for his new club, Birmingham City.
The West Midlands club were priced up as the overwhelming favourites by the majority of bookies ahead of this season and although the majority of the media coverage focused on their successful pursuit of Fulham’s Jay Stansfield, Iwata’s arrival appears to be an incredibly savvy bit of business by the Blues.
The Japanese international has scored three goals and claimed one assist in his first nine appearances and his propensity to take a shot from range has helped him to become a fan favourite at St. Andrews. Despite dropping points in three of the five games heading into the November international break and trailing leaders Wycombe Wanderers by two points, the former Premier League outfit are still deemed most likely to finish top of the table by most online sportsbooks, and Iwata is likely to play a significant role in guiding the club back to the Championship.
Gustaf Lagerbielke
Although he has admitted that a return to Celtic is not out of the question, the Swedish defender will spend the rest of the campaign on loan at FC Twente in the Eredivisie. Having reportedly rebuffed the chance to join Malmo in the summer, the 24-year-old is aiming to make an impression in the Dutch top flight and he played a full 90 minutes in the Europa League against OGC Nice.
Domestically, he’s been a peripheral figure so far, yet he played some part in each of the three matches leading into the November international break, albeit from the bench.
Hyeok-kyu Kwon
The South Korean youth international made his temporary departure to Hibs and has made ten appearances for the Edinburgh outfit so far. The midfielder has yet to find the back of the net or contribute an assist, however, he has taken 14 shots, with only two of his teammates – Martin Boyle and Mykola Kukharevych – having attempted more.
Unfortunately, the Hibees are struggling for form and they’ve picked up just a single victory so far this season.
Dane Murray and Magnus MacKenzie
Two Celtic players remained in Glasgow and joined second-tier outfit Queens Park this summer. Dane Murray, who has made the temporary switch, has made the biggest impression so far, becoming an integral part of the starting XI. He has contributed just a single assist, yet he’s featured in every single Scottish Championship encounter.
Magnus MacKenzie appears to be being eased in gently having made just a single Championship appearance, coming off the bench against Ayr United. He has also featured in cup games and will have to remain patient as he awaits his opportunity.
Ben Quinn
Irishman Ben Quinn joined his uncle Stephen at Mansfield in League One. Although his appearances in the third tier have been limited, he’s been a regular contributor in cup competitions and has notched in both the FA Cup and the EFL Trophy.
He caught the eye in the Stags’ first-round FA Cup victory over non-league Curzon Ashton with an impressive 20-minute cameo which he capped with a superb strike.
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