Journalist Joe Krishnan has reported that Celtic target Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is set to join Stoke City on loan, with an obligation to buy included in the deal.
The update brings clarity to a situation that had lingered throughout the window and had drawn attention from several clubs, including Celtic, who were repeatedly linked with the winger during January.
Rak-Sakyi’s name had stayed in reports for weeks, often surfacing late in discussions as clubs weighed cost, availability, and timing. For Celtic, his profile fit a clear need. They have looked for a right-sided attacker who can carry the ball, take on defenders, and add end product from wide areas. Rak-Sakyi ticked those boxes on paper, but the path to a deal was never straightforward.
The loan-with-obligation structure is telling. It suggests Stoke have moved decisively, committing not just to short-term cover but to making Rak-Sakyi part of their longer-term plans. That level of commitment often settles situations quickly, especially when other clubs are still weighing options or trying to negotiate flexibility.
From a Celtic point of view, this development effectively closes one door. Rak-Sakyi had been discussed alongside other winger targets, and his availability had been shaped by agent movement and timing rather than a clear push from one club early on. Stoke’s move cuts through that uncertainty and removes him from the market.
Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has decided to join Stoke City on loan with an obligation to buy ✅
Potters are aware of his knee issue but are willing to take risk to sign the 23yo
I’m told there was late interest from Monaco, but JRS already chose Stoke. #cpfc #stoke
— Joe Krishnan (@joekrishnan) January 30, 2026
The clarity of that update matters. Rak-Sakyi is no longer one to monitor or revisit later in the window. His future, at least for now, is settled. For Celtic, it sharpens the focus on the remaining options and highlights how quickly situations can move when one club commits fully.
Rak-Sakyi’s career over the past year has been up and down. He has shown flashes of quality, especially when given freedom to attack space and isolate defenders. He is most effective when the game opens up, when he can drive forward rather than recycle possession. That makes him an interesting fit for the Championship, where transitions are frequent and physical demands are high.
Stoke’s interest reflects that. They are looking for players who can change games in moments, not just hold shape. The obligation to buy suggests confidence that Rak-Sakyi can deliver enough over the loan period to justify a permanent move. That kind of structure also protects the selling club, removing the risk of a short-term deal that goes nowhere.
For Celtic, the question now is less about Rak-Sakyi and more about what his exit from the market says about their own window. They have been linked with multiple wide players, but links do not equal progress. Deals require alignment on fee, wages, and role. When that alignment does not come quickly, other clubs step in.
This is not unfamiliar territory. Celtic have often found themselves monitoring players who remain available deep into a window, only for another club to act with greater urgency. That does not always mean Celtic missed out on the right player, but it does narrow the field and reduce flexibility as the deadline approaches.
The wider squad picture still matters. Celtic’s needs are not limited to one position. Winger remains an area the club are actively working on, with Fares Ghedjemis and Damir Redzic both in the frame. Ghedjemis’ situation has stalled due to the asking price, while talks over Redzic are still ongoing.
Rak-Sakyi moving to Stoke also shows the competitive nature of the market below the top leagues. Championship clubs are willing to structure deals creatively and move fast. Loan obligations are increasingly common, and they appeal to players who want clarity about their future rather than another short-term stop.
For Celtic supporters, the news may bring mixed reactions. Some will see it as a missed opportunity. Others will view it as a natural outcome of a complicated situation that never fully aligned. Either way, Rak-Sakyi’s name can now be crossed off the list.
What remains is the more pressing issue of what comes next. With the window closing, Celtic’s margin for delay is shrinking. Targets are fewer. Prices tend not to fall. Each passing day increases the risk of ending the window short in areas that have already been exposed.
Rak-Sakyi’s move to Stoke is a reminder of how quickly transfer narratives can end. One moment a player is heavily linked. The next, he is gone. Celtic now have to operate with that clarity in mind as they decide which paths are still open and which ones have already closed.
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