Player Analysis: What Celtic can expect from Albian Ajeti

Celtic have completed the big money signing of Albian Ajeti from West Ham United but what can the club expect from the Swiss striker?

Celtic have completed the signing of Albian Ajeti from West Ham United for a fee of around £5 million. But what does the Swiss striker bring to the table? He was spectacular in the Swiss league with FC Basel but then failed in the Premier League. A lot of that burden also lies with the club’s mismanagement of the player though.

We will be honest, we have not seen a lot of the Swiss international. So we got someone who has. We got Green Street Hammers expert, Henry Tomlinson, to tell us what Celtic can expect from their new signing. And here is what he had to say –

When West Ham signed Albian Ajeti, there was a lot of excitement surrounding his arrival. Especially as he has European pedigree and the club beat a couple others for his signature. The Swiss striker joined from FC Basel where he had a brilliant record. Ajeti contributed to 64 goals during his time at the club – 43 goals and 21 assists in just 96 appearances.

The 23-year-old looks to have plenty of pace and looks to get in behind defences. This speed of his was used at FC Basel to devastating effect. Ajeti was so deadly for the Swiss side that he was even capable in European competition. The striker has scored goals in the Europa League and the Champions League qualification rounds, which should bode well for Celtic.

And to be honest, he never really got a proper chance at West Ham, he only made twelve appearances in the claret and blue. In these appearances, he was not used correctly and struggled to make an impact. Despite calls from Hammers fans to give him a proper chance, both Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes were not convinced by him, leading to his limited minutes for the club.

There were other concerns over his quality despite his £8 million price tag. When he played, it was usually against teams that were sat back, meaning there was little space for him to exploit. This lack of adaptability could be a worry for Celtic fans, as their team usually dominates against the majority of the opposition in the Scottish Premier League.

Ajeti may not have the same success as Odsonne Edouard and the Hoops may be weaker if the French hitman leaves with only the former Hammer as his replacement.

Ajeti however, scored 43 goals and assisted a further 21 in the Swiss league, which according to Bleacher Report is two spots higher than the Scottish Premier League. If Ajeti can rediscover his form of old in Glasgow, the Hoops may have found a new star.