There’s plenty of evidence of Celtic's smart tactics regarding player moves out of the club. Negotiating follow-up sell-on clauses is a regular feature. We can see that at play as we look at possible transfers of former players like Jeremie Frimpong and Alexandro Bernabei. Both could bring a welcome windfall to the club from moves this summer.
Sometimes, the smart negotiating by Celtic goes under the radar for a while. It’s not always evident at the time a player moves out and doesn't attract any media noise at the time.
We often only find out when the facts come to light much later. That's the case for one of the current squad, who is out on loan at the moment.
It looked as though Odin Thiago Holm didn't have much of a future in Glasgow under the management of Brendan Rodgers. At the time the Norwegian midfielder was signed, he was tipped to be the next Martin Odegaard. But he didn't show that quality or potential on the pitch and faded away from squad selections. That red card against Feyenoord in the Champions League may have been a factor.
Celtic player confirms he quietly signed new contract
Holm is currently out on loan at Los Angeles FC for the rest of 2025. That seemed a sensible move and many fans will have thought it may be the first step in a permanent exit. But that may not be the case. The player has indicated recently that he wants to return to Celtic eventually.
And there’s a further significant update on Holm’s position, which highlights those smart tactics and perhaps a longer-term future at the club. As reported by The Celtic Way, the midfielder said:
"I signed a new contract before I left for LA. The aim is still to come back and be successful for Celtic and win trophies, just like the current team.
"I am confident in my own ability to do that, and I still see my future at Celtic. I just need to get consistency in the work that I do."
The new deal helps signal some commitment from both sides, as Holm has gone out on loan to gain more experience and playing time in LA. Many had felt that Celtic had already given up on the midfielder and he did not have any future in Glasgow but that might not be the case after all.