Celtic fans are demanding a significant outlay from the board to back manager Martin O'Neill, as the club sits on nearly £70 million in the bank. The demand follows three consecutive misfiring transfer windows, with the only arrival so far being a one-year extension for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, though a £3m deal for Camilo Duran is close. Former chairman Peter Lawwell was famously accosted in 2024 outside St Mirren Stadium by a fan demanding the club "get the f****** money spent." In response, Celtic splashed over £25m on Arne Engels, Auston Trusty, and Adam Idah, which paid off with the club's best Champions League campaign in over a decade.
History Shows Big Spending Pays Off
Record Sport analyzed Celtic's most expensive signings, revealing a clear pattern: significant investment delivers success. Arne Engels, signed for £11m from Augsburg in 2024, is the record signing and likely to double Celtic's money, with interest from the Premier League and Serie A. The Belgian's underlying numbers are outstanding, making him the archetypal 'speculate to accumulate' signing. Adam Idah, at £9.5m from Norwich, scored 20 goals in his full season and helped Celtic reach the Champions League knockouts before being sold to Swansea for £7m in 2025.
Jota, initially signed for £6.5m from Benfica in 2022, was sold for £25m to Al-Ettifaq, then re-signed from Rennes for £9.5m in 2025. A horror knee injury at Tannadice has sidelined him for 15 months, but his earlier impact was immense. Odsonne Edouard, a £9m signing from PSG in 2018, blossomed into a key player and was sold to Crystal Palace for £14m. Christopher Jullien, at £7m from Toulouse, was a key man in the Europa League before a serious knee injury curtailed his career at Celtic.
Legacy Signings and a Cautionary Tale
Chris Sutton, signed for £6m from Chelsea in 2000, was a game-changer, forming a formidable partnership with Henrik Larsson. John Hartson, also £6m from Coventry in 2001, became a goal machine despite a failed Rangers medical. Cameron Carter-Vickers, £6m from Tottenham in 2022, turned a loan into a permanent stay and is a modern Celtic great. Auston Trusty, £6m from Sheffield United, was arguably Celtic's best player in their Champions League run and would yield a profit if sold.
However, spending below £5m has caused recent woes. Michel Ange Balikwisha, Sebastian Tounekti, Albian Ajeti, and Vasilis Barkas all flopped, highlighting the risk of bargain hunting. With £70m in the bank and potential departures of Engels, Benjamin Nygren, and Daizen Maeda, the time appears ripe for Celtic to invest big under O'Neill.
