Celtic Ready To Cut Losses On £5.5m Flop: Right Decision From The Hoops?

Celtic Ready To Cut Losses On £5.5m Flop: Right Decision From The Hoops? Celtic are in advanced talks to send winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha to Belgian Pro League club K.A.A. Gent on loan, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph . The structure of the deal includes an option for Gent to sign him permanently for around £3.5 million. Balikwisha, 25, has received permission from Celtic to fly to Belgium and complete a medical. The DR Congo international was brought in from Royal Antwerp for £5.5 million, but the Scottish champions have now deemed him surplus to requirements. His representatives had been searching for a suitable destination for several weeks. What went wrong at Celtic Balikwisha’s time at Celtic has been nothing short of a disaster. The Congolese winger arrived from Antwerp last summer with genuine expectations, only to post 0 goals and 0 assists across 14 appearances throughout the 2025/26 season. He hasn’t touched the pitch once in the current 2026/27 campaign. Those numbers tell a brutal story. In the Scottish Premiership, he failed to register a single shot on target, his dribble success rate sat at a miserable 44%, and he contributed just 2 key passes all season. A ghost, in every statistical sense. The tactical direction under the Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has moved firmly against wide players who lack structural discipline. Balikwisha’s profile, an individualistic, flair-driven attacker, simply didn’t fit the system’s demand for pressing intensity and defensive positional awareness. Celtic’s smart exit from a costly mistake GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 23: Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Celtic is seen during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on October 23, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Letting him go now is the correct call from Celtic’s perspective. Yes, recouping £3.5 million on a £5.5 million investment is a loss, but it’s a controlled one. His market value has dropped sharply after 14 fringe appearances and complete omission from this season’s squad. The fact that Gent, who just qualified for the UEFA Conference League and carry financial confidence, are willing to cover his full wages on loan while inserting a concrete buy option is a genuine win for Celtic’s recruitment operation. It clears wages, frees a squad slot, and stops the rot before it festers. Holding onto a disengaged player with no pathway back into the team is how dressing room problems start. Celtic are cutting him loose, acknowledging the scouting error, and moving on.