Vakoun Bayo leaves Olympics and seals permanent Celtic exit

With the Tokyo Olympics near, it was first thought that there was one Celtic player who would be participating there. But now, it has emerged that he has left his Olympic football squad and completed a transfer exit from Parkhead.

As reported earlier by Daily Record on Friday, Vakoun Issouf Bayo left the Ivory Coast Olympic football squad in order to enter into talks to get a move to Belgium.

And now, the move has been made official. KAA Gent confirmed on their website that Bayo has joined them. Celtic also tweeted out the news of the permanent deal taking place and wished the Ivorian good luck.

Bayo arrived with a lot of expectations back in 2019 but never quite managed to find his feet in Scottish football. According to stats from Transfermarkt, he scored 2 goals in 17 appearances for the Hoops through the course of his time at the club.

More from Celtic FC News

• Celtic handed fresh injury doubt before Feyenoord game
• Celtic’s £40.7 million announcement should scare Rangers
• Brendan Rodgers makes superb claim about returning Celtic player
• BBC pundit makes sensational claim about Celtic hero Kyogo
• Kyogo Furuhashi sends clear message to Celtic doubters

Bayo never managed to find his feet at Celtic

Bayo spent the previous season on loan at Toulouse, where he did have a decent if not spectacular campaign. Toulouse could not secure promotion to Ligue 1 though and did not end up taking the option to buy in Bayo’s loan deal.

At this point of time, it does seem like a permanent move away is best for both the player and the club. It did not look like he was going to get many first-team opportunities at Parkhead next season and a move is expected to get him more playing time. On the other hand, the Hoops will receive a transfer fee, which could help them in their squad rebuild this summer.

On the other hand, Ange Postecoglou’s side could soon find themselves short of options up top. With Edouard expected to leave this summer, and Klimala and Bayo already gone, it looks like the club might need to bring in some strikers as soon as possible.