Glasgow Celtic has enjoyed regular domination in Scotland in recent years, and Hoop’s wise signature plays a major role in its success.
The people of Parkhead are not known to splash cash like other clubs in Europe, but they have become consecutive winners. Martin O’Neill, Neil Lennon, Ange Postcogle, Brendan Rogers and others spent their money when they were allowed to do so, but who is Celtic’s most expensive signature in history?
This is the top 10, with one player actually appearing on the list twice.
Celtic’s most expensive signature ever | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | player | commission | signature | year |
1 | Arne Engels | £11 million | Augsburg | 2024 |
2 | Adam Aida | £9.5 million | Norwich City | 2024 |
= 3 | Odsonne Edouard | £8 million | psg | 2018 |
= 3 | who | £8 million | Rennes | 2025 |
5 | Christopher Jurys | £7 million | Toulouse | 2019 |
6 | who | £6.5 million | Benfica | 2022 |
= 7 | Auston Trusty | £6 million | Sheffield United | 2024 |
= 7 | Cameron Carter Bickers | £6 million | Tottenham | 2022 |
= 7 | John Hartson | £6 million | Coventry City | 2001 |
= 7 | Chris Sutton | £6 million | Chelsea | 2000 |
10 most expensive signatures of Celtics in detail
10
Chris Sutton
£6 million from Chelsea
Chris Sutton, now known for his role as a critic and co-operative association, was a scorer during the day of play and moved to Celtic Park in 2000.
The British appeared on Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers before joining Chelsea in 1999, and headed to Scotland for £6 million after a 12-month stint at Stamford Bridge.
Sutton scored over 80 goals in a Hoops appearance in just under 200 years old, earning eight major honors in Scotland.
9
John Hartson
£6 million from Coventry City
Celtic’s Sutton’s strike partner is Welsman John Hartson, who also spent £6 million from the city of Coventry in 2001.
A strong centre forward, Hartson actually made more appearances for Celtic than any other club he represents, outscoring Sutton in his hoop career. He earned six major honors at Parkhead before being sold to West Brom in 2006.
8
Cameron Carter Bickers
£6 million from Tottenham
After casting multiple loan spells from Tottenham, the Cameron Carter Bickers found a permanent home at Parkhead in 2022 after a successful Hoop a year ago.
Celtic has made a strong boost to Tottenham in Glasgow before paying £6 million to the US centre-back, which has since been linked to a mega-money transfer to the Premier League.
7
Auston Trusty
£6 million from Sheffield United
Another American defender to join Celtic was Orton Trust, who made the move in 2024 after Sheffield United’s relegation from the Premier League.
Trusty made 37 appearances in his first season as a Hoops player and won two trophies. He is on the contract until 2029.
6
who
£6.5 million from Benfica
Portuguese winger Jota starred on loan for Benfica’s Celtic in the 2021/22 season, and his transfer was permanent at £6.5 million at the end of the campaign.
The attacker became a fan favorite and got even better as Hoop won the treble a year later, but he was then sold to Al-Ittihad for a whopping £25 million. More about Jota in the future…
5
Christopher Jurys
£7 million from Toulouse
Towering centre-back Christopher Julien was Celtic’s first summer signing in 2019, becoming Neil Lennon’s manager for signing the French defender.
Unfortunately, Julien suffered an injury during the hoop and was sold to Montpellier in 2022 for a fraction of the price.
4
who
£8 million from Rennes
After a failed attempt in Saudi Arabia, Jota was sold to Rennes, France, but once again struggled to hit the heights of his time at Celtic.
Hoop was in negotiations to sell Kyogo uruhashi to the League One side in 2025 and used the money to bring Jota back to Parkhead in a deal worth £8 million.
So, in total, Celtic spent just under £15 million on Jota in two relocations, but sold him once for £25 million. It’s a good business.
3
Odsonne Edouard
£8 million from PSG
After starring in Loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the 2017/18 season, Celtic made Odoson Eduard’s transfer permanent for the then-recorded record at a rate of £8 million.
Hoops at the time described it as the “largest transfer” in history, with the French forward continuing to score a fun goal in Scotland. Celtic still has a healthy profit at Eduard, cashing in at £14 million when Crystal Palace entered the 2021 deadline.
Odsonne Edouard Celtic Statistics | |
|---|---|
game | 179 |
the goal | 87 |
assist | 37 |
I played a few minutes | 12,199 |
The trophy won | 11 |
2
Adam Aida
£9.5 million from Norwich city
Another striker who sacrificed a lot of money after being impressed by the loan was Adam Ida. Republic of Ireland International spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign at Parkhead in Norwich City, scoring a big goal for Hoops, including a late winner against the Rangers in the Scotland Cup final.
Celtic then spent £9.5 million on Ida and handed him a five-year contract in Glasgow.
1
Arne Engels
£11 million from Augsburg
The charts top of Celtic’s most expensive signature of all time are midfielder Arne Engels. Belgium joined in the same summer as Ida as Hoops actually spent cash in 2024.
Engels, 20, starred in his first season when he signed, winning the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish League Cup.
