On Sunday we saw the value of our two January signings: Julian Araujo won Man of the Match, while Tomas Cvancara scored the opening goal. Time will tell if February’s three additions will prove as effective.
Junior Adamu (24) is primarily a striker but plays across the front line. Like Tomas, he joins from the Bundesliga, where has two and a half years with Freiburg. Junior’s first season at Freiburg was spent largely as a substitute, but he became starting striker in season 2024-25. That status ended in November 2024 when he was red carded for violent conduct at Dortmund and received a three match ban. The player never recovered his regular starting spot after that setback until April.
Celtic have an option to buy the Nigeria-born Austria international. 10 goals in his breakthrough season in Austria with Salzburg got him the move to Germany. He has played a lot of football for a 24-year-old, so should be ready for the challenge of the Scottish Premiership.
Norwegian Joel Mvuka (22) had an anxious wait before his move to Celtic was confirmed late last night after issues with his medical. Consequentially, the deal was downgraded from a permanent transfer to a loan with an option to buy. You have probably seen him before, he made substitute appearances in both Europa League games against Celtic in 2022
After spending 18 months at Bodo/Glimt, he earned a move to Lorient, where he has mostly been used in right-midfield. I’m told he has pace to burn and will get up and down the right side to support attacking and defensive play.
Benjamin Arthur (20) arrived on loan from Brentford, allowing Stephen Welsh to return to Motherwell until the end of the season. Brentford have high hopes for the player, so there was no chance of an option to buy.
The others going out the door were Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who managed to convince three managers he had no interest in being at Celtic. Life tip: recruit attitude before talent. Johnny Kenny leaves for Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season. Johnny endured a torrid run of form after such a promising display in the League Cup semi-final in November. You get the feeling his chance at Celtic has passed.
My big worry of yesterday was when Nottingham Forest bid £25m for Arne Engels. That figure has been Celtic’s ceiling, so any bid of that size would have caused serious thought, but with the title race so tight, it would have been too risky to sell a first-team player.
Under a different manager, Arne regularly started on the bench early in the season. The speed with which he went from being out of the team to being subject to a Celtic-record bid is fascinating.
The old mantra, we hope to leave the transfer window stronger than we went into it, was surely met. The squad lost fringe players and, even before yesterday, added significant value in Tomas Cvancara and Juian Araujo.
With Tomas, Junior Adamu and the return of Kelechi Iheanacho, Martin O’Neill has significant options for the striker role, which should allow Daizen Maeda to setting into the wide position. We are also hopeful of seeing Callum Osmand next month.
Kieran Tierney looks to have regained full fitness, while Marcelo Saracchi is back training and will be available for selection this month. Alistair Johnston is still some way from returning, but Araujo is a productive deputy, with Colby Donovan and Anthony Ralston as backup.
Auston Trusty and Liam Scales will be the focus in central defence; it remains to be seen what action Benjamin Arthur sees, or if he figures ahead of Dane Murray.
Martin is not short of options in the middle of the park. McGregor, Bernardo, Hatate, Engels, McCowan and Nygren have been used for the middle three positions. I expect might see Joel Mvuka in a deeper role – more like McCowan’s position than Yang’s.
Will it be enough? I would mistrust anyone confident either way on that question. With the two new signings we have seen, and the return to fitness of several absentees, in addition to yesterday’s business, we can at least be hopeful. One month in the roles, Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney have played their cards. It will be a fascinating end to the season.
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This Hertz fan on Shortie knows his market when he’s not talking about Hertz.
Just in, yesssssssss.
Goodnight all
McInnes jibbering.
He has no idea how to win a league.
I suppose now with that result from our buddies -see what i did there – the hype and the help will switch to der hun !!
3 points tomorrow please 🙏🏽
Celtic40me
Re playing on those early carpet pitches
I only played amateur football and badly at that.
We just ended up playing bigger games at those grounds back then.
Good fun to play in those proper stadiums and environments but horrible pitches to actually play or watch football at.
:-)
quadrophenian on 3rd February 2026 10:03 pm
And here’s to you Stevie Robinson, Jesus loves you more than you will know 🎶
_____
🤣🤣He’s a really good manager. As is the Motherwell boy. Then again, how could we possibly see beyond Martin and Shaun into next season. Shown enough already this season
What a contrast.
This time last night the mob were screaming the house down.
Tonight?
🤫
Pleased to say (I don’t know why, but I’m a weather geek) that it’ll be ok in Aberdeen tomorrow.
As a wise man once said, (or was it Bourne….)
When a window closes…..
A door opens….
ThatshandyCSC
posted on Facebook : “Good news, Celtic fans, easyJet has added a flight from Glasgow to Stuttgart for the Europa League play-off clash between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC later this month.
“Flight information:
Outbound: 08:30am – 11:20am on Thursday Febuary 26.
Inbound: 11:45am – 12:35pm on Friday February 27.
“Book now and get ready for the Stuttgart showdown: https://brnw.ch/21wZCPh
ZIGGYDOC – yep he did a decent job at Motherwell prior, esp in that agricultural big lad game plan he favours. And Jens Askou has something about him too.
Speaking of which, I wonder if taking Welsh from Murderwell was part of our Mike’s Maswanishe manoeuvre?
Mibby we took Welshy away as a bargaining chip in negotiations and eventually settled on some kind of pact where they refused to sell to a rival mid-season but agreed to give us first dibs in the summer window IF we gave them Welsh back in the interim ?
Mibby aye, mibby naw. HH
Celtic Mac
The Men on the 64 Omnibus
Collective next steps are out. Hmmm.
No doubt Martin brings a confidence to the team which I believe will win us the league . Contrast McInness who ,like his team, has never been in this position before . His behaviour in our game at Tynecastle , eyeballing our players , the spat with Fozzy was that of a man under pressure and not handling it well . Watched his interview after tonight’s game and I saw the same thing , he looks like a man cracking under the weight of expectation .
Askou must be in the conversation for next manager if it’s not to be MON’n’Shaun.
BSR
It will be interesting how these additions add to the squad. I took a back seat from Celtic blogs to see the result of the window.
We have what we have, no idea if they will produce the goods but after tonight first light in the tunnel.
Time to rally the bhoys irrespective of differences, among he support. I would be surprised if the the board remains unaltered after the season ends.
Wish this blog had a edit function!
A job of work to do tomorrow night
Game at a time Celts,Aberdeen morra night,Fundee in cup Saturday gives a different breather.
Celtic.💚
HH
Great result tonight in Paisley but we must take care of our own business tomorrow night and make sure we leave Aberdeen with all three points.
Regarding the transfer dealings yesterday:
The Scottish media are ignoring the elephant in the room. Why did Nottingham Forest not make 3 bids for Nicholas Raskin? They made a big enough noise when Raskin replaced Engels in the Belgian team. Maybe all the petty fouling, tripping and hauling opponents back by the waist when they are running past him in midfield are not the qualities teams in bigger leagues are looking for.
PRESTONPANS BHOYS
You’re a better man than me.
One possibly two permanent deals fell through, but I’m for loans till the recruitment dysfunction is sorted. The boardroom change is in the post along with modernisation and a stadium ’reset ‘.
FWIW – The loan players look good to me given the leagues they come from and option to buys are above Tisdale prices.
HH
Strike whilst the iron’s hot. Three points tomorrow night, Martin’s Marvels! Ave Ave
Petition:
One Celtic. Back our Board, Manager, Players and Charity.
https://c.org/kC24nkswRn
bournesouprecipe@10.53
No sitting at the back of the bus for those Bhoys!
Great image…
Need to be right up for Pittodrie tomorrow night . I Don’t think Martin would tolerate anything less . Tonight’s result in Paisley will only be a good one if we take care of our own business , We don’t want the huns to be the only ones to profit fom it .
Just looking through the photo gallery on the Celtic website from today’s training session @ Lennoxtown and was surprised to see Odin Holm participating….
Could it be that Martin is planning to bring back the thunder. No?
Celtic Mac
The mythical tough tackling midfielder? It would be great to see a fit Odin Holm get the chance he’s never really had so far .
BSR
Will be interesting what the Collective propose tomorrow.
What struck me from Saturday was the stand up against the board chant, even the old stand stood up and I don’t agree with the 80%, looked more to me.
Unfortunately the standing area had no impact, perhaps will should have chanted. Sit down if you…😅🤣
Will = we
Get edit function
Good night all
Hertz’ luck finally ran out. I never listen to McInnes’ interviews but I made a point of savouring it tonight. Let’s make sure we take advantage tomorrow. We let them off the hook by appointing Nancy, giving them a new lease of life. Let’s not repeat. MO’N is a different kettle of fish.
scrolling pages is a problem,not sure why ?
glendalystonsils
Odin has had it tough, not so much with injuries , but with complex vascular conditions affecting his lower limbs, calf muscles in particular, aggravated by major physical effort. Not ideal for a professional footballer.
The problem was identified some time back, possibly while in the USA, but as yet no longer term solution. Be great if his condition is improving, looked happy enough in training.
If all our recent temporary ‘acquisitions’ show up as decent players, we’ll have to change the song to:
“You’ll Never Mock A Loan!”
(c)Quadrophenian CSC
Assimilated Tims determined to derail our season, with protests against Dermot Desmond (and his board), whilst MON pleads for understanding and unity.
These turncoats, among our fan base, should be boycotted and socially ostracised.
Ave Ave
The Collective at Gracies wanting a boycott on Saturdays v Dundee game ,we need to help the team to try and win the league ,boycotts is the wrong wat to go,
Support the team.
Bring the thunder back.
Messi and many others have spoken about our 12th man.
Freaky Petey,a charlatan, one of many
https://x.com/i/status/2018686847224775062
HH