Celtic can afford to pay a premium for players these days, but there has also been plenty of room for a bargain or two over the last few years in Glasgow’s east end.
The art of the deal is a unique skill in football. Not everyone has it, but the Bhoys have always had a knack for gaining lasting value from players brought in for modest fees.
Henrik Larsson is arguably the greatest example of this after joining the club for £650,000 and going on to build a legacy as the King of Kings at Paradise.
However, this particular list will concern 2016 onwards, in keeping with Brendan Rodgers’ first spell at the club alongside Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou’s tenures before his return last summer.
For the record, individuals who initially arrived on loan have been excluded. Otherwise, Daizen Maeda would’ve been a definite inclusion from the five selected. Signings from this summer also don’t make the cut, even if their impact has been promising.
Without further ado, 67 Hail Hail take a look at five of the best modern Celtic bargains in no particular order.
Scott Sinclair’s Celtic impact will live long in the memory
The earliest and most expensive inclusion on this list, Scott Sinclair comes in as one of the earlier signings of Rodgers’ first tenure at Celtic at a cool £3.5 million from Aston Villa in 2016.
Hovering on the borderline of whether he can be considered a bargain, his inclusion comes as a consequence of his magnificent contribution in green and white, becoming an Invincible treble winner and a constant source of goals for the Hoops.
In 162 appearances for Celtic, Sinclair registered 62 goals and 34 assists across all competitions, lighting up the left flank with his combination of pace, trickery and an instinctual nature in front of the target.
For £3.5 million, he makes the cut solely because his overall exploits while in Scotland vastly outweigh the price he was brought in for.
Greg Taylor’s Celtic longevity has gone under the radar
Isn’t it hard to believe that Greg Taylor has been at Celtic for five years now? Joining from Kilmarnock in 2019 for £2.2 million, the Scotland international has dislodged every direct competitor for his left-back position.
The criteria for this selection includes longevity; more on that later. The Greenock-born man has now played 180 times for the Bhoys, contributing eight goals and 27 assists.
Nine winners’ medals have come Taylor’s way at Celtic, and he has deservedly earned adulation over the last few years due to his excellent positional awareness, helping to flood the midfield when inverted.
With his contract situation still up in the air, the Bhoys will be keen to get him tied down before suitors come calling for his services.
Reo Hatate is a player who needs no introduction
Celtic’s show-stopping midfielder Reo Hatate couldn’t miss out. He is a staple of this selection, and his magic in the engine room needs no introduction.
Brought in halfway through Postecoglou’s first term in charge, the Japan international cost a mere £1.4 million and, realistically, would cost more than ten times that on the market today.
Nearing the 100-appearance mark for Celtic, Hatate has featured on 94 occasions for the Bhoys, putting up 18 goals and 20 assists in that timeframe.
Technically, he is one of the most gifted players to grace the slopes of Celtic Park in recent years and provides the oxygen for other players in the side to thrive. You couldn’t find a less risk-averse player if you tried, he is willing to pull off manoeuvres that most wouldn’t even comprehend trying.
Matt O’Riley’s perfect example and an ode to Aaron Mooy
Before delving into Matt O’Riley’s brilliant time at Celtic, Aaron Mooy is a bonus name that enters the frame, so you can consider him as the sixth man on this list, even if there are only five profiled in depth.
The former Australia international came in on a free transfer after leaving Shanghai Port and waltzed his way into the heart of supporters in 2022/23 with a series of nonchalant yet brilliant displays.
After ending his career in Glasgow as a treble-winner, he isn’t mentioned in more than dispatches because he only spent one season at the club. Still, he was a Rolls-Royce of a midfielder, and his ‘Daddy Cool’ theme tune wasn’t bad either!
Back to O’Riley, he is in many ways the prototype of what Celtic’s recruitment model can achieve when everything goes to plan.
Acquired from MK Dons for £1.5 million in 2022, the Denmark international left in a deal worth £30 million this summer to join Brighton & Hove Albion, making him a record departure.
From early on, it became clear that O’Riley was destined to reach great heights. 124 appearances came his way, where the Hounslow-born playmaker notched 27 strikes and 35 assists.
This included 37 goal contributions in 2023/24, leading him to sweep the board at the Celtic Player of the Year Awards ceremony earlier this year. All the best to him at Brighton as he takes the next step in his career!
Joe Hart is a fitting inclusion to finish the list
Kasper Schmeichel may be ruling the roost between the sticks for Celtic this season. However, nobody has forgotten about Joe Hart’s distinguished three years of service between 2021 and 2024.
In a period of uncertainty after the Bhoys lost the title by 25 points, the former England international cost £1 million and more than answered the cry for stability during his time in Glasgow.
Surpassing 150 outings across all competitions, Hart kept 64 clean sheets for Celtic and led from the front as seven medals made their way to his lengthy cabinet of accolades.
Beyond his ability to be a match-winner with important stops, his passion and leadership were intangible qualities that made life easier for the backline. Now enjoying retirement, it is fair to say he made an impression that won’t vanish from the memory bank any time soon.
