If there was any doubt left over Celtic’s pursuit of Junior Adamu, it was removed late on Sunday evening.
Respected German journalist Florian Plettenberg confirmed the move is now complete, declaring the deal done between Celtic and SC Freiburg. In his update, Plettenberg stated that a verbal agreement has been reached, the player is already on site, and the loan deal will be finalised on Monday.
With the transfer deadline falling on Monday evening, all signs point towards an announcement earlier in the day. That said, Celtic supporters know the pattern by now. Deals that are effectively completed are often held back, sometimes deliberately, and unveiled later in the day or even at night.
Whether this one is pushed out quickly or managed more cautiously may depend on whether any further business materialises before the window shuts.
Either way, Celtic have their man.
Adamu, 24, arrives from Freiburg on loan, having joined the Bundesliga side from Red Bull Salzburg in 2023 for a reported €5 million. His time in Germany has not gone to plan.
He has struggled for consistent minutes and has clearly slipped down the pecking order, prompting a move in search of regular football.
This season, Adamu has made 18 appearances, scoring twice and registering one assist. Those numbers will not set pulses racing, but context matters.
He has been used sparingly, often in short cameos, and never truly settled as a focal point in Freiburg’s attack.
From a Celtic perspective, the attraction lies less in raw output and more in profile. Adamu offers something different to the options already in the building. He is mobile and capable of operating across the front line. Compared to Tomas Cvancara, also on loan, and Iheanacho, he brings a bit of variety.
This is not long-term squad building. It is a short-term solution designed to plug gaps and give the manager another body during a critical run of fixtures.
With two loan strikers now in the squad, Celtic are clearly prioritising immediacy over future planning, a theme that has frustrated supporters throughout this window.
The formalities remain. Registration, and the familiar Celtic TV sit down with Gerry McCulloch will follow before anything is officially confirmed. But in substance, this one is over the line.
Celtic needed another striker before the deadline. They have got one. Whether it proves enough, or merely underlines how late and reactive this window has been, is a debate for another day.
We’re also expecting Celtic to finalise the permanent deal of Joel Mvuka for around £3m. His medical was on Sunday ahead of his switch to Glasgow.
