Celtic loanee earns huge praise from manager already

Celtic have allowed several players to leave the club on loan this summer, so that they can get ample playing time and continue their development. There were many who were not anywhere near Ange Postecoglou’s first-team and it was the right step for them to move out. Osaze Urhoghide is one such player, and is now at KV Oostende on a temporary basis.

Following a promising breakthrough into the senior level at Sheffield Wednesday, Urhoghide signed for Celtic in the summer of 2021. In fact, he was the first signing of the Postecoglou era.

In his first season at Celtic Park, he made only one first-team appearance, a solid outing against Real Betis in a dead-rubber group stage game in the Europa League. In January, Urhoghide then joined KV Oostende on a loan deal till the end of the season, with an option to buy included.

That option was not taken though and he did not move to the Belgian club on a permanent deal this summer. Instead he took part in Celtic’s pre-season campaign, before heading back to KV Oostende on loan again. It is believed that they have an option to buy included in the deal this time around as well.

Celtic loanee has already impressed manager

The 22-year-old made his first appearance of the 2022/23 season by putting in a solid defensive display, as KV Oostende managed to get a 2-1 win over KV Mechelen. And Urhoghide seems to have impressed manager, Yves Vanderhaeghe, already. As reported by The Scottish Sun, he said:

"“Look at him. He’s a beast. He’s a monster.“His physique makes such a strong impression.“He definitely has so many qualities. But of course, the first thing a defender has to do is defend, of course.“Osaze still has to grow a bit by taking the initiative with the ball. If he happens to get on the ball, he needs a bit more conviction and confidence at his feet.“But he has enormous potential for sure.”"

Urhoghide’s current deal at Celtic expires in the summer of 2025. But, with the player’s loan deal with the Belgian side believed to include an option to buy, a decent loan spell in Belgium could very well persuade his current side to make a move for him on a permanent basis.

That is exactly what happened with Jack Hendry as well, who was on loan at KV Oostende before it was made permanent after a very good spell. They would quickly let him go to Club Brugge for a higher transfer fee.