CELTIC broke their transfer record TWICE in last summer’s transfer market as Brendan Rodgers splashed £32million in strengthening his squad.
The £9million arrival of French striker Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 – after an impressive season-long loan – had stood as the Hoops’ all-time high until the purchase of Adam Idah earlier in August 2024.
The Republic of Ireland international frontman persuaded the champions to part with a fee that will rise to £9.5million to bring him to Parkhead on a permanent basis from Norwich City after his short-term temporary transfer the previous term.
THE VICTOR AND THE VANQUISHED…Adam Idah celebrates his Scottish Cup winner on May 25 2024 as crestfallen Jack Butland can only look on.
Idah thumped in nine goals in 19 appearances, including the Scottish Cup winner against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side at Hampden on the iconic date of May 25 2024.
The deal for the powerhouse attack leader was sealed on August 13 – and the record stood for all of SEVENTEEN days before the £11million arrival of Belgian midfielder Arne Engels from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg.
Busy boss Rodgers was involved in eight incoming deals in the window that closed on August 30 with the late £1million purchase of Dundee captain Luke McCowan.
That hoisted the champions’ summer spend to £32million, significantly higher than the £19million outlay over the same period the previous year.
ON THE BALL…£6million deadline-day arrival Auston Trusty.
SUMMER 2024 ARRIVALS
Arne Engels £11m Augsburg
Adam Idah £9.5m Norwich City
Auston Trusty £6m Sheffield United
Paulo Bernardo £3.5m Benfica
Luke McCowan £1m Dundee
Viljami Sinisola £1m Aston Villa
Kasper Schmeichel free Anderlecht
LOAN
Alex Valle Barcelona
WELCOME TO PARADISE…£4.3million new Bhoy Maik Nawrocki in July 2023.
Twelve months earlier, the top deal had been the £4.3million paid to Legia Warsaw for centre-back Maik Nawrocki.
Next up was the £3.25million paid to Greek club Aris Thessaloniki for Honduran winger Luis Palma while there was a £3million outlay for Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke from Elfsborg.
Midfielder Kwon Hyeon-kyu arrived from South Korean outfit Busan I-Park for a more modest £850,000. He moved to St Mirren in a short-term switch in January and agreed a season-long deal with Hibs last time out.
SUMMER 2023 ARRIVALS
Maik Nawrocki £4.3m Legia Warsaw
Luis Palma £3.5m Aris Thessaloniki
Gustaf Lagerbiekle £3m Elfsborg
Odin Holm £2.25m Valerenga
Yang Hyun-jun £2.1m Gangwon FC
Marco Tilio £2m Melbourne City
Tomoki Iwata £1m Yokohama F Marinos
Kwon Hyeon-kyu £850,000 Busan I-Park
LOANS
Paulo Bernardo Benfica
Nat Phillips Liverpool
FOOTNOTE: The summer transfer window officially opens today and will close on Monday September 1.
