Celtic Summer Exiles Making Impact in New Clubs
Celtic’s summer exiles are wasting no time proving their worth.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate all left Glasgow under very different clouds, their futures clearly lying elsewhere by the end of the window. A few weeks on, each of them is already shaping the story of a new season.
Iheanacho catches fire in Turkey
No one has hit the ground harder than Iheanacho. The move to Bursaspor has jolted the Nigerian back to life.
- Six goals.
- Two assists.
- Five league games.
He has scored in every single league appearance so far, a ruthless streak that has instantly turned him into one of the most dangerous forwards in the division. For a player whose Celtic spell never fully caught fire, this is a statement run. Defenders in Turkey are discovering what many in Scotland only saw in flashes.
Engels finds his stride at West Ham
Engels’ start in England has been more of a slow burn, but the signs are now unmistakably encouraging.
After a difficult debut, the Belgian has begun to show exactly why West Ham were willing to pay a record fee for a Championship club to land him from Celtic. He claimed an assist in a 4-2 win over Wolves, then followed it with the kind of all-round display coaches love and analysts replay.
Against Derby County, Engels created six chances and made eight recoveries as West Ham cruised to a 3-0 victory. He knitted play together, pressed aggressively, and controlled key moments. Hammers supporters have noticed. The online reaction has turned warm, appreciative, and increasingly excited about what he can become in claret and blue.
Hatate’s flair lights up Burnley debut
If any departure jarred with Celtic supporters, it was Hatate’s.
The Japanese playmaker left on deadline day, Burnley paying £6.5m plus add-ons to prise him away in a move that surprised plenty around Celtic Park. There was no gentle easing-in period at Turf Moor. Nicky Hayen threw him straight into the starting XI against Bristol City.
Hatate responded in the way he usually does: by making something happen.
He set up Burnley’s opening goal, immediately showcasing the creative spark that made him such a favourite in Glasgow. The match ended in a 2-1 defeat, but his individual display drew praise from Hayen, who knows the midfielder well from facing him during Brendan Rodgers’ first season back in charge at Celtic, when their sides played out a 1-1 draw.
The new Burnley boss has already seen up close what Hatate can do. Now he has it on his side.
Celtic’s alumni buck the trend
Leaving Celtic Park can be a harsh lesson. Many players discover that the aura, the expectations, and the platform they once enjoyed in Glasgow are not easily replicated. The grass, as the old line goes, is not always greener.
This trio are pushing back against that narrative.
Iheanacho is scoring for fun. Engels is winning over a demanding Premier League crowd. Hatate is already pulling strings in a new midfield.
For Celtic, it reflects well when former players step out into Europe and thrive. For the three who walked away this summer, the early evidence is clear: they have not just escaped a precarious situation, they have embraced it and turned it into opportunity.
The question now is not whether they will settle. It’s how far this form can take them.
