French Eddie link is probably nothing more than lazy journalism, but you’d be kidding yourself if you don’t think he’d improve our squad…
Odsonne Edouard of Celtic (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Odsonne Edouard has yet again been linked with a move back to Celtic after being deemed surplus to requirements at Crystal Palace and officially put on the transfer list by the FA Cup holders. Niall J covered this latest transfer link on The Celtic Star last night.
Odsonne Edouard is now surplus to requirements at Crystal Palace
The Frenchman known as ‘French Eddie’ to the Celtic supporters hasn’t had the best of times since moving to Selhurst park in 2021 for a reported fee of £14.5 million despite a blistering start to his career with the Eagles in the English top flight.
Edouard, who had an unsuccessful loan spell at Relegated Leicester City last season, according to some outlets is now a player of interest for his former boss Brendan Rodgers.
The Irishman persuaded the Celtic board to splash a then club record £9 million for Odsonne Edouard in 2018 following a successful loan spell from French Champions PSG.
Odsonne Edouard of Celtic shoots at goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and St. Mirren FC at Celtic Park on August 21, 2021 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Odsonne Edouard scored 89 goals in 196 appearances for Celtic
Eddie would became a hero in the eyes of the supporters during his three years at the club scoring a total of 89 goals in 196 appearances winning eight major honours in the process and getting a brilliant song courtesy of The Green Brigade via The Stone Roses, which always sounded wonderful in Paradise.
Odsonne Edouard was adored by the Celtic support. What a song he had!
The prolific French youth international was a big game player for the club. Cup finals, derbies, Europe, he more than proved his credentials, and it would be no surprise if Brendan sounded him out about a return. His most memorable Celtic goal was probably at Ibrox in March 2018 when Celtic were down to ten men and the score was tied at 2-2.
Odsonne Edouard celebrates after he scores Celtic’s second goal during the Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on April 29, 2018. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Odsonne Edouard’s goal on Beautiful Sunday
On he came from the bench, Celtic went with two up top so he was playing alongside fellow Frenchman Moussa Dembele and the two combined brilliantly with Eddie scoring a wonderful winner to give us a Beautiful Sunday.
His second goal at Hampden to turn around the Scottish Cup Final in 2019 against Hearts is also notable.
Would I welcome Odsonne Edouard back? Yes, absolutely. But it’s most likely nothing more than a case of lazy journalism. Some supporters aren’t keen on seeing Eddie return, but you’d be kidding yourself if you didn’t think he’d improve our squad. He’s a class act after all, and with a manager like Brendan Rodgers who knows him well, he may just re-discover his mojo back at Celtic.
Jeffrey Schlupp of Celtic FC controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
The Jeffrey Schlupp deal
Celtic took Jeffrey Schlupp on loan from Crystal Palace in January to see out his contract and in doing so paid a percentage (probably 50%) of his £60k per week Premier League salary. A similar situation might be possible this summer if there are a shortage of other alternatives for the Frenchman who will not feature of Palace next season.
If Brendan Rodgers does indeed fancy a return for Odsonne Edouard I for one will be all in favour of it happening. What about you?
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Don’t touch him with a barge pole. The guy downed tools in Covid season along with some others and cost us the ten
I already answered my opinion in a previous post – I simply can’t see this happening from Edouard’s perspective.
Now don’t get me wrong, if any striker turns up, works hard for the team and bangs in 25 goals and season, they have my admiration and support regardless, but I’d echo Jim’s comment in that Edouard totally gave up all pretence of trying to perform prior to his departure and that isn’t the best platform to restart your career from.
However – for a time he was head and shoulders the best forward in the league by a mile. So let’s imagine he did come back. Brendan signs him. He plays a season, and he actually does really well. What happens?
We get a short term gain for goals and points etc, Edouard gets his career back on track, and then quite likely he’s off again with best wishes after 1 season.
And during that time his excellent performances have kept Idah, Kenny and Osman out of the squad. He’s destabilised the existing striker pool, and after a year there’s a risk that all 4 of them want to leave for pastures new.
I realise that’s an overly pessimistic view, but if we want to go that far and sign a striker that would usurp all the talent we currently possess, then surely we’d be trying to sign other younger players for (likely) longer deals than Eddie.
(And irrespective this is still just a thought experiment – I will be astonished if he comes back).