Celtic agree deal in principle to sign player as club green-light medical

Celtic‘s summer rebuild is gathering speed as Martin O’Neill prepares his champions for another demanding fight on domestic and European fronts.

The Hoops enter the new campaign after winning a dramatic Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season. O’Neill was rewarded with the job permanently in June and has since pushed for proven quality.

Kasper Høgh joined from Bodø/Glimt for a club record £11 million after scoring regularly in Norway and Europe. Camilo Durán has also arrived from Qarabag, giving Celtic greater power and competition through the middle.

However, Daizen Maeda’s £10 million move to Ipswich created a major gap out wide.

The Japan international provided crucial goals during four successful years in Glasgow. Celtic needed another winger even before his departure because Jota missed the entire 25/26 campaign and Michel Ange Balikwisha struggled to establish himself.

Yang Hyun-jun produced 10 goals across 47 appearances, while Sebastian Tounekti scored five times in 45 Celtic outings. Both remain useful options, but O’Neill still lacks a natural left-footed attacker who can start from the right and drive directly at defenders.

Haissem Hassan fits that description.

The 24-year-old came through Châteauroux’s academy before moving to Villarreal. Loan spells with Mirandés and Sporting Gijón followed before he found a regular home at Real Oviedo.

Born in France, he represented that country at youth level before switching to Egypt. He also helped Oviedo win promotion in 2024/25.

While his La Liga form last season failed to blow anyone away, his performances for Egypt at the World Cup elevated his profile over the summer and showed that he could threaten stronger opponents on a major stage.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Blake Dahlin

Celtic now appear ready to complete the deal after weeks of talks.

Celtic agree deal in principle for Hassan as Oviedo green-light medical

REUTERS/Paul Childs

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph says the clubs have reached an agreement in principle which would see Celtic pay slightly less than £6 million initially.

Another £3 million could follow through bonuses, taking the overall package close to £9 million if every target is achieved.

Significantly, Joseph reports that a substantial part of those extras will become payable if Celtic reach the UCL league phase later this month.

That structure limits the immediate risk. Celtic would only meet much of the maximum price after securing the valuable European income which comes with qualification.

Hassan has now been cleared to undergo his medical and complete the remaining contract paperwork this week.

Nothing is official until those stages are finished, but the hardest part of the negotiation appears to be over.

O’Neill wanted another winger with courage and unpredictability. Hassan may not arrive with huge scoring figures, but Celtic believe his direct style can give their attack something it currently lacks.