Chris Sutton believes Celtic are overcomplicating their summer transfer business…
Celtic player Shin Yamada is introduced to the crow prior to the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
The former Hoops striker has described Brendan Rodgers’ remarks about Japanese forward Shin Yamada’s arrival as ‘bizarre.’
Yamada was officially announced as Celtic’s latest signing on Saturday, joining the club on a four-year contract from J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale. However, Sutton views Rodgers’ assessment of the deal as odd, hinting that the manager is choosing his words carefully as questions continue to surround his own deal which expires at the end of the season.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Speaking via Daily Record, Sutton said: “Rodgers needs reinforcements and his comments about incoming Shin Yamada won’t exactly put fans at ease, when it’s clear they are starting to get a bit frustrated at the lack of serious movement in the transfer market.
“The manager described the Japanese striker as a club signing and one he’ll assess when he gets in to see if he’s going to be one to develop for the future or one for the here and now.”
Sutton added: “I find all that stuff a bit bizarre. You don’t get this stuff elsewhere about club signings as opposed to manager signings. Rodgers is clearly being a bit cute. He will have had the final say on the deal but it looks like he’s agreed to take a look at a low risk cheap arrival while also creating a bit of distance if he doesn’t quite work out.
Celtic player Kieran Tierney is embraced by manager Brendan Rodgers before coming on as a substitute during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“It’s a strange scenario. You can’t be over-critical of a transfer policy that has made the club fortunes over the last decade and more. But it doesn’t seem like Celtic don’t half make things hard for themselves when it comes to transfers.”
Sutton is right. The ‘club signing,’ ‘player for the future,’ ‘needs development,’ type signing is tedious rhetoric. Celtic need reinforcements who will walk through the door and add quality now. They also must get their act together in the transfer market. The season starts a week on Sunday.
Michael Nicholson, Chief Executive of Celtic FC looks on from the stands prior to the Premiership match between Celtic FC and St Mirren FC at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
It would be great if someone told the Celtic board that.
Conor Spence
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We had £70m in the bank on January. We sold Kyogo fo £10m and bought Jots for £8m adding £2m. We made £38m from UCL not including ticket sales, food, hospitality and additional sponsorship for those matches. A football finance expert rekoned that would have taken it up to around £50m. We have season tickets, corporate and boxes for this season which will be around another £30m. Plus the £4m for league and cup double. This summer the Frimpong money has covered our purchases, we sold Kuhn and Lagerbeilke for £20m.
That is £172m, I know there are expenditures for salaries for all club employees and other outgoingings but still we must have well over £100m in the bank maybe nearer £120m.
So why is the club not paying reasonable money (around £5m for the players we are linked with) to give the team and Rodgers what he needs? The board fannied about last summer and it costed Celtic and additional £5m for Idah and Engles by leaving it late.
We have just signed another record breaking deal with Adidas (contrary to what the scottish press tell us, it will be more that the previous deal of £3m a year) or if not the board are incompitant!
There is a regulation for companies that trade on the stock exchange that if the board are making the company weaker they are liable and procecutible for their actions.
Can anyone explain to me why Celtic have got this new deal with Adidas, are making more money that ever due to the success of the footbal side with UCL competition last year and Scottish success, showcasing our players at the top level then selling them for a massive profit, that the board are not performing illegally buy weaking our football side which is the reason for the financial success, which in turn will weaken the value of the club on the stock exchange?
Never mind the fact that they are not backing the football team and manager with the money the fans have pored in!
Questions need to be aked and at the legal financial aspect regarding the regulations pertaining to the stock exchange.