Throughout the club's rich history, many great players have represented Celtic. The legendary Scottish club have never been the kind to spend over the odds on talent since they prefer to develop their own. However, on some occasions, they have splashed the cash. Here are the 5 most expensive signings they have ever made.
The 5 most expensive Celtic signings of all-time
1. Odsonne Edouard (£9 million)
Topping this list is the former Celtic striker, Odsonne Edouard. He was signed by the club in 2018, after a great season on loan at Parkhead
Edouard cost Celtic a transfer fee of £9 million (Sky Sports, 2018) which was undeniably a massive investment for the club. Fortunately, it was one which paid off, remarkably.
After his loan spell, Edouard represented Celtic as a permanent player for three years, so a four-year stint in Glasgow in total. Over his time at Parkhead, the Frenchman netted an impressive 89 goals for the club across all competitions, playing a key role in their Quadruple Treble.
Celtic managed to secure a tidy transfer profit as well when Edouard joined Crystal Palace in 2021. Of course, the fans would have preferred for him to stay but in hindsight, it was great business from the Hoops, with Kyogo seamlessly taking his spot in the team.
2. Christopher Jullien (£7 million)
In 2019, Celtic secured the permanent signing of Christopher Jullien from Toulouse. In the process, the French centre-back became the second most expensive signing for the club (BBC, 2019), joining for a transfer fee in the region of £7 million.
He spent three years at Celtic Park, winning the treble in his first season, and even scoring the winner against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final. It is fair to say, though, that he didn't live up to expectations with most of his time at the club spent out injured.
3. Jota (£6.5 million)
It is a rarity that Celtic spend over £6 million on a player, which is refreshing to see given the size of the club and the current economic state of the sport. However, it is quite fitting that an exception to the rule was Jota.
Originally, Jota was signed on loan from Benfica and in the season he spent at Celtic Park on a temporary basis, he was an instant hit. He helped guide the club to an unexpected double, which left them with little choice but to sign him permanently.
After his loan spell, Jota spent one more season in Glasgow, winning the treble following another fine campaign. He had joined Celtic permanently in 2022 for a fee worth £6.5 million (Sky Sports, 2022). When he left the following year, to join Al-Ittihad, it was for a Scottish record £25 million.
4. John Hartson (£6 million)
Sticking with the theme of elite goal-scorers, next on the list is the former Welsh international John Hartson, who joined Celtic from Coventry City in 2001. The Hoops spent a lot of money to sign, £6 million to be precise (BBC, 2001).
Hartson is still remembered very well by the Celtic faithful as he was a player who always gave his all for the badge. A player who wore his heart on his sleeve, he would oftentimes get involved in altercations on the pitch, the most notable being in the Glasgow Derby, where he is one of many players to be red-carded in the fixture.
Looking back on his Celtic transfer, he should have no regrets. Hartson spent five years in Glasgow, a tenure he didn't meet with any of his other clubs. He scored an impressive 109 goals across all competitions, cementing himself as a club legend forever.
5. Cameron Carter-Vickers (£6 million)
Cameron Carter-Vickers was signed by Celtic in 2022 from Tottenham Hotspur, after an impressive loan spell in Glasgow. The USA international slotted into the Hoops lineup excellently and he benefited from a tailored development plan, one that made him improve more efficiently as a player.
He was signed from Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee, however, the transfer fee is widely documented to be around the £6 million mark (Daily Mail, 2022), making him the fifth most expensive Celtic signing of all time.
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