Here’s a list of Celtic’s biggest flops of all time — players who arrived with big expectations, hefty price tags, or strong reputations, but ultimately failed to make the grade at Parkhead.
⚽ Celtic’s Biggest Flops of All Time
🧤 Goalkeepers
- Dorus de Vries – Signed by Brendan Rodgers as a trusted option, but never lived up to expectations and looked shaky when called upon.
- Łukasz Załuska – Spent years as backup without ever convincing as a reliable first choice.
🛡️ Defenders
- Rafael Scheidt – The name says it all. Signed from Brazil for around £5m in 1999 and made only a handful of appearances before being branded one of Celtic’s worst-ever signings.
- Du Wei – Arrived with fanfare from China but played only one disastrous game (a Scottish Cup defeat to Clyde) before being shipped out.
- Efraín Juárez – A highly rated Mexican international who failed to adapt to Scottish football.
- Mo Bangura – Waited for impact but didn’t fit Celtic’s system; struggled badly in front of goal despite promise.
- Marvin Compper – Signed from RB Leipzig but barely featured; one of the strangest transfers in club history.
⚙️ Midfielders
- Juninho Paulista – Former Middlesbrough and Brazil star came with massive hype but looked past his best in Glasgow.
- Thomas Gravesen – Big-name signing from Real Madrid, but inconsistent performances and poor attitude saw him quickly fade.
- Olivier Kapo – Brief spell marred by injuries and off-field disputes; barely remembered by fans.
- Eboue Kouassi – Touted as Scott Brown’s long-term successor but struggled to make any impact.
- Youssouf Mulumbu – Came from Kilmarnock after impressive displays, but never got going at Celtic.
🎯 Forwards
- Mo Bangura – Brought in as a new striking hope but managed no goals in his time at the club.
- Amido Baldé – Big, physical striker who looked out of his depth technically.
- Teemu Pukki – Showed flashes of ability but never found consistency or confidence in front of goal.
- Colin Kazim-Richards – Signed as a stopgap forward, but offered little impact and left quickly.
- Vakoun Issouf Bayo – Highly rated Ivorian who couldn’t break into the team or score regularly.
- Patryk Klimala – Costly signing who struggled with the physical and tactical demands of the league.
- Leigh Griffiths (late years) – Though once prolific, his later Celtic career was marred by fitness, attitude, and off-field issues.
- Ajeti Albian – £5m signing from West Ham who never justified his fee and looked uninterested.
🏴☠️ Dishonourable Mentions
- Derk Boerrigter – Injuries and poor form made him one of the most forgettable signings of the 2010s.
- Nadir Çiftçi – Struggled with the step up from Dundee United and quickly fell out of favour.
- Badr El Kaddouri – Loan signing who failed to impress.
- Koki Mizuno – A cult signing from Japan who never lived up to the promise.
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