Celtic’s surprise step into free agent market in the 2025 summer transfer window, after the deadline removed Adam Idah to Swansea City, the striker.
After a frantically searching for a replacement, Brendan Rodgers was able to form an alliance with Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined the club the day after his release from Sevilla.
With the move causing a huge sensation among supporters, we watched all of the Rogers free agent signings at Celtic Park, ranking the highest among his two spells in the canoe.
11
Kundai Benyu
2017-2020
At the beginning of the proceedings, Kundai Benyu joined the Celtics in 2017 from a free transfer from Ipswich Town, bringing four first-team appearances ahead of the short loan spell of Oldham Athletic and Helsingborg.
Eventually, he left Bhoys in 2020 to sign Wealdstone United before serving in Vestri and IBV. Zimbabwe International now features Harare’s Outfit Caps United.
10
yousouf mulumbu
2018-2019
Mulumbu never really left after Celtic failed to sign John McGinn from Hibernian, becoming a late member of the 2018 Rodgers midfielder after signing John McGinn in 2018.
He had previously enjoyed a great 2017/18 Scottish Premier League campaign in Kilmarnock and was soon back to Rugby Park, before a break from his basketball contract led him to leave in the summer of 2019. Not that either party is rewarded.
9
Ross Doohan
2015-2022, 2025-Tresent
Ross Doohan rejoined the Celtic from Aberdeen in the summer of 2025 and found himself at the bottom of the scale, as neither spell competes for the club.
Still, the Scottish international is a valuable presence within the walls of Lennoxtown and helps relieve the pressure on basketball European squads to register power, which makes him a wise capture for Scottish Premier League holders.
8
Callum Osmand
2025
Technically, Callum Osmand signed the Celtics in the cross-border compensation agreement, but he joined him after the 2025 summer Fulham contract ended. Why not make things more interesting?
The Jersey-born striker represents Wales on the international stage and in a pre-season friendly against Cork City and Estrela de Amadora.
Ultimately, his position on the roster may fluctuate based on how many minutes he earns in the coming months. His high score, contributing to 55 goals, was on 73 outings at the Goats at all youth levels, although loans seemed to be a wise step to help his development.
7
Emilio Izaguirre
2018-2019
At the time, many Celtic fans were shocked when Emilio Izaguirre returned to Parkhead in 2018 after leaving the club the year before joining Al-Fayha. Still, his status as a cult hero of supporters has aroused some excitement.
Finally, Honduras’ left-back made a lonely assist in 19 appearances in Glasgow’s second spell, winning domestic high notes at Bhoys.
Frequently injured, Kieran Tierney’s position as the first choice limits his inclusion. Despite receiving a one-year extension, Izaguirre, 33, left Motagua with 13 winner medals, now athletic director.
6
Kolo Toure
2016-2017
To be honest, you can argue whether the second spell about Izaguirre or Gloo Toure’s work in Glasgow should be higher, but Ivorian masked it because the key factors will be explained.
Premier League champion Toure was associated with Rodgers shortly after leaving Liverpool and made 17 appearances under the Irishman before calling out his outstanding career due to the trouble of injury.
Interestingly, he then worked as a technical assistant, continuing to be part of the Celtics’ team behind the scenes, staying in Lennoxtown, and then leaving for Leicester City to work as a first-team coach. Supporters love his infamous hymns!
5
Kelechi Iheanacho
2025
The person everyone is talking about. Many Celtic supporters may want Kelechi Iheanacho to rank on this list. However, it is unfair to draw any premature conclusions before he reaches a continual game in the team.
Until now, Bhoys’s failure in pursuit of Kasper Dolberg is common sense. Their efforts to land at Denmark International proved unsuccessful, and he is now back in Ajax, which he believes is the second home.
A versatile battle to sign Iheanacho in a picky deal before Celtic signed Iheanacho, which has led many fans to angrily adopt a transfer strategy, seeing people like David Datro Fofana and Patrick Bamford contact Parkhead without breaking through.
Statistically speaking, Nigeria International scored one goal in 15 games in a loan spell in Middlesbrough about 2024/25. Of his 11 outings in Seville, three strikes were not a convincing statistic.
Rodgers offers the grace of savings, having previously worked with Iheanacho and helped him produce the best football of his career in Leicester City, including 19 goals in 2020/21, which he hopes can rediscover under his guidance.
4
Scott Bain
2018-2025
Scott Bain initially arrived from Dundee on loan to Celtic from Dundee, Scott Bain cemented himself as another lovely figure among supporters and maintained an impressive 40 clean sheets in 78 appearances.
The long-serving goalkeeper capped three times in Scotland, and his spell in Glasgow ended with no less than 14 medals in his name. He moved to Falkirk during the transfer window and enjoyed his life in the Scottish Premier League newcomer.
3
Kasper Schmeichel
2024
Kasper Schmeichel is another player with extensive experience working with Rodgers and arguably has been a major success story for the Celtic since arriving at a free transfer in the summer of 2024.
The Danish International has won the Scottish Premier League and Prime Minister Sports Cup so far, although he seems to have not finished yet at the age of 39 in November.
Schmeichel is a brilliant example of professionalism, and his desire to continue to showcase his talents at the Celtic is admirable.
2
Kieran Tierney
2015-2019, 2025-Tresent
Some of you might ask, why isn’t Kieran Tierney ranked No. 1 on this list? There is a reason for this, but the final decision comes down to the difference in the fact that he hasn’t made a free transfer until recently.
Born in Steve Clarke’s Scotland, the 28-year-old is a Scotland staunch who is an idol of the Celtic and shot prominently in the first spell, playing a driving role when he won eight trophys at the club, winning eight goals in a total of 170 appearances and winning eight goals with 37 assists.
Since then, Tierney has received a £25m transfer from his childhood club to Arsenal, and has won the FA Cup with the Gunners and has received recognition for performance. Enjoying a different football atmosphere, he also spent some time borrowing at Real Sociedad.
Now he’s back firmly back to the Celtics, effortlessly under Rodgers after signing five years of sales in the summer of 2025.
