Celtic are on route to reclaiming the Premiership title this season, but where are Brendan Rodgers’ last five transfers as Bhoys boss now – with each no longer playing at Parkhead?
The Hoops have turned their squad over in the three years to pass since Rodgers left the Glasgow giants. He upped sticks after three decorated years in Scotland, over which Celtic won two top-flight titles, two Scottish Cups and lifted the Scottish League Cup three times.
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Rodgers has since gone on to enjoy success at Leicester City, including winning the Foxes’ first ever FA Cup. He led the King Power Stadium side to glory at Wembley last May with a 1-0 win over Chelsea. The East Midlands side had previously lost in four final appearances.
A chance to take over Leicester following the Foxes sacking Claude Puel proved too good for Rodgers to refuse – despite the chance of winning a treble of trebles with Celtic during 2018/19. So, three years on, where are Rodgers’ last five permanent Celtic transfers now?
Maryan Shved last Celtic signing of the Brendan Rodgers era now at Mechelen
Celtic sealed a last-gasp move for Maryan Shved in the January 2019 transfer window, as Rodgers raided Karpaty Lviv for a 21-year-old gem. But the two-cap Ukraine international would not enjoy a great career at Parkhead before leaving Glasgow for good last summer.
Shved only spent the 2019/20 season in the Premiership after re-joining Karpaty Lviv on loan following his transfer. The winger made just three appearances with the Bhoys across all competitions, too. And his outings only totalled 40 minutes, with each from the bench.
The Lviv native would spend 2020/21 on loan with KV Mechelen before he completed a permanent switch last July. Shved has since made 31 appearances so far this season for three goals and three assists. He had offered five goals across 24 outings whilst on loan.
Andrew Gutman now an MLS star after failing to break through after Celtic transfer
Andrew Gutman joined Celtic in the January 2019 transfer window under Rodgers and is now emerging as a Major League Soccer star with Atlanta United. The 25-year-old never even featured for the Hoops following his arrival from Indiana Hoosier University.
Celtic immediately sent Gutman back to America as a highly-rated prospect with Charlotte Independence. He would also later enjoy a temporary spell with FC Cincinnati, before the left-back completed a permanent move across the pond with Atlanta in March 2021.
Atlanta are now reaping the rewards of their swoop following sending Gutman on loan to New York Red Bulls last year. The defender has started in all nine of the Five Stripes’ MLS fixtures so far this season. He also assisted in their US Open Cup win over Chattanooga FC.
Manny Perez starting new challenge at Louisville after unseen Celtic career
Manny Perez arrived at Celtic under Rodgers in the same transfer window as Gutman and is likewise now back in America. But unlike the Atlanta star, Perez is plying his trade in the second-tier with Louisville City after he failed to make the grade with Portland Timbers.
Celtic sold Perez to Portland in April 2021 following two loan spells with North Carolina. He never played for the Hoops, but offered six assists in 37 games for North Carolina. He also never featured for Portland, having played 10 times on loan with Austin before being sold.
Perez has already made 11 appearances for Louisville since his arrival in February 2022 for one assist. His outings to date have come at right-back, in midfield and also on the wing.
Vakoun Issouf Bayo struggling in Belgium after Celtic move under Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers struck a £2m deal with Slovakian club DAC Dunajska Streda to sign Vakoun Issouf Bayo in what would be his last transfer window as Celtic boss. The Hoops beat competition from Rapid Vienna and Parma for the Ivorian striker now struggling in Belgium’s top-flight.
Bayo made just 17 appearances for two goals and one assist in his 18 months at Parkhead before going out on loan. The Bhoys sent the two-cap international to Toulouse in August 2020, where he would score 13 times over 36 games in all competitions and assist four.
His efforts in France convinced KAA Gent to spend £1.5m in July 2021. But after he failed to score or lay on an assist in just seven appearances, Bayo was back out on loan with RSC Charleroi. The 25-year-old has found form with Les Zebres for seven goals after 13 games.
Youssouf Mulumbu is the last Celtic summer signing under Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers’ final summer swoop saw Celtic sign Youssouf Mulumbu from Kilmarnock in 2018. He had shown to be capable of offering a creative option from the centre of midfield at Rugby Park. Yet the 39-cap DR Congo international failed to make a splash at Parkhead.
Mulumbu made just three appearances with the Bhoys for 155 minutes before returning to Kilmarnock on loan in January 2019. The Hoops then released the 35-year-old and he spent a year out of the game before sealing another return to Rugby Park in August 2020.
Kilmarnock benefitted from Mulumbu’s expertise for one further season before he joined Congolese side FC Saint Eloi. The veteran midfielder was a bit-part player in his final year with Killie, making 21 outings for two assists and no goals, while only starting 10 games.
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