Celtic are interested in signing Brazilian talent Vinicius Souza from Lommel SK this summer, potentially making the midfielder the eighth South American to play for the Hoops to date.
Souza moved from his native Brazil to Europe with Lommel in October 2020 from academy club Flamengo. He would begin to make a name for himself in Belgium’s second-tier during his debut campaign, before sealing a season-long loan to the top-flight with KV Mechelen.
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The 22-year-old was instrumental in the engine room at the AFAS Stadion this season, too, starting 34 of 35 appearances. Souza additionally offered two goals and an assist across his 32 Jupiler Pro League outings as the holding option in manager Wouter Vrancken’s squad.
Celtic are interested in Lommel SK raid for Vinicius Souza summer swoop
Souza additionally offered Mechelen a versatile presence after he sporadically filled a spot in Vrancken’s defence at centre-half. Now, his efforts at the AFAS Stadion may see the Rio de Janeiro native move to Scotland than return to Lommel with Celtic interested in Souza.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who report Ange Postecoglou is considering a summer swoop for Souza, but Celtic face rival interest from Turkey and Italy. His performances with Mechelen also caught Fenerbahce and Bologna’s attention, plus Belgian giant Club Brugge.
All three have declared their interest in Souza, who is likely to head out on loan again next season. Celtic have also scheduled meetings with the Brazilian’s representatives to discuss their interest in now signing the midfielder, who is 60% owned by the City Football Group.
Postecoglou is striving to make signings in central midfield to replace Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic this summer. Kevin N’Doram is another option to bolster the numbers at Parkhead, having only started 16 of 19 Ligue 1 appearances this season as Metz suffered relegation.
But Celtic stepping up Postecoglou’s interest in Souza and signing the Lommel midfielder on loan would make the Brazilian the eighth South American to play for the Hoops yet. So, with that in mind, who were the previous seven South American stars on the Bhoys books?
Juninho Paulista last Brazilian to play for Celtic for Souza to follow amid interest
Juninho Paulista remains the last Brazilian to play for Celtic for Souza to potentially follow amid Postecoglou’s interest this summer. The Hoops signed the midfielder in the summer of 2004 from Middlesbrough, yet he spent half a year in Glasgow for just 18 appearances.
Paulista had moved to Europe with Boro from Sao Paulo in 1995 before heading to Spain with Atletico Madrid in 1997. Middlesbrough would re-sign the 50-cap international in a permanent deal in 2002 until his Celtic switch, which preceded a January return to Brazil.
Rafael Scheidt first Brazilian to play for Celtic but disappointed at Parkhead
Rafael Scheidt became the first Brazilian to play for Celtic in 1999 when former gaffer John Barnes and ex-director of football Kenny Dalglish paid Gremio £5m. But the defender did not settle in Glasgow and only made three appearances before joining Botafogo in 2004.
Emilio Izaguirre was a South American success during nine years with Celtic
Emilio Izaguirre was a South American success story with Celtic to potentially inspire Souza amid Postecoglou’s interest this summer. The sole Honduran to play for the Bhoys enjoyed two spells in Glasgow between leaving Motagua Tegucigalpa in 2010 and his exit in 2019.
The left-back left his native Honduras to ply his trade in Scotland and spent seven years in the Premiership before joining Al-Fayha. But after just one year in Saudi Arabia, Izaguirre returned to Glasgow for a further year to reach 271 appearances in total, plus 48 assists.
Diego Laxalt last South American to play for Celtic with loan from AC Milan
Diego Laxalt was the last South American to play for Celtic after joining the Bhoys on loan from AC Milan for the 2020/21 campaign. The left-back is the sole Uruguayan to play for the Bhoys to date, but would prove to be defensively suspect across his 28 appearances.
Fernando de Ornelas became Celtic’s first Venezuelan with 2000 transfer
Fernando de Ornelas became Celtic’s first Venezuelan with his transfer from Crystal Palace in 2000. The 30-cap forward would only spend a matter of months in Glasgow, however, in which he played twice before heading to Hong Kong with South China Athletic Association.
Miku Fedor enjoyed one season in Glasgow on loan from Getafe in 2012/13
Miku Fedor enjoyed a season in Glasgow during the 2012/13 campaign when Celtic signed the Venezuelan forward from Getafe. Yet the 51-cap international only scored twice over his 14 appearances in all competitions and only started in eight games under Neil Lennon.
Marc-Antoine Fortune sole French Guiana star to star for Celtic so far
While an overseas department of France, French Guiana is on the northeast coast of South America and have seen one of their own in Marc-Antoine Fortune head to Glasgow to play for Celtic. He joined the Hoops from AS Nancy in 2009, yet left for West Brom after a year.
The striker cost the Bhoys £4m under Tony Mowbray, but often struggled despite scoring 12 and assisting 11 goals in 45 games across all competitions. Lennon’s arrival then saw his Hoops spell come to a swift end and returned to The Hawthorns after a loan in early 2009.
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