Jahmai Simpson‑Pusey’s time at Celtic ended almost as quickly as it began, with the 20‑year‑old centre‑back on the move again after a frustrating spell in Glasgow.
Signed with genuine optimism last summer after being named PL2 Player of the Year, Pusey struggled to break into the first team. He managed just 64 league minutes in total for the reigning Scottish champions – his only senior appearance coming at right‑back under Martin O’Neill, where he looked promising but never got the platform to build on it.
The move always carried an element of risk given his youth and relative inexperience, but expectations were high. Instead, his loan at Celtic failed to spark, with limited opportunities and an increasingly stretched squad leaving him on the fringes. Now, his loan spell has been terminated early, and he’s heading for a fresh chapter in Germany.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has provided the latest details on Simpson‑Pusey’s next move:
“Jahmai Simpson‑Pusey completing medical at FC Köln today after loan deal agreed from Manchester City. He’s in Germany to sign the contract after Celtic loan deal terminated.”
🚨 Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, completing medical at FC Köln today after loan deal agreed from Manchester City.
He’s in Germany to sign the contract after Celtic loan deal terminated.
Buy option clause: Man City value him at £10m, Koln offer around £5m. #MCFC to have buy back clause. pic.twitter.com/h18Kc6SJGX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 4, 2026
The deal reportedly includes a buy option clause, with Manchester City valuing him at around £10 million and Köln offering around £5 million. City are expected to retain a buy‑back clause as part of the arrangement.
The exit feels like another missed opportunity. The signing looked shrewd on paper, a young defender with technical ability and versatility, but things never clicked. Whether it was the system, the adaptation to Scottish football, managerial changes or simply bad timing, Pusey never became part of Nancy’s plans and rarely got the minutes that might have helped his development.
Celtic will likely need to dip into the defensive market this January.
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