Celtic have done a great job when it comes to adding to their ranks over the course of the summer but at the same time, they have also allowed a number of players to leave, who were not in the first-team picture at the moment. Although it must be pointed out that there have been no blockbuster exits this time around.
The most notable have been that of Vasilis Barkas and Ismaila Soro, who have left on loan, and that of Boli Bolingoli and Christopher Jullien, who have exited the club on a permanent basis.
And now, another player has completed a Parkhead exit in the form of Owen Moffat. The youngster came through the club’s youth ranks and was very highly rated but was not able to break into Ange Postecoglou’s first-team plans. As a result, a move away made sense for him.
He has ended up joining Blackpool, who currently play in the English Championship. The club announced on their official website:
"Blackpool Football Club can confirm the signing of Owen Moffat from Scottish Premiership side Celtic.The 20-year-old winger, who will initially link up with the Club’s Development Squad, has put pen-to-paper on a three-year contract at Bloomfield Road, which includes an option for a further year."
Another Celtic youngster has left the club and moved to England
Moffat joins a long list of highly rated Celtic youngsters who have not been able to make the grade at the club.
At the same time though, considering the kind of options that Celtic have on the wings right now in the form of Jota, Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda, it would have been very, very difficult for him to make a mark and nail down a spot in the first-team.
Now, it will be very interesting to see how he does after moving to England. Even there, one would expect Moffat to get most of his opportunities at the developmental level and if he can prove himself then he would make the jump up to the senior team.
At the same time though, it must be said that Celtic need to do a better job of bringing through youngsters.