Former Celtic player Jeremie Frimpong reached the semi-final of the Europa League on Thursday evening with his current club Bayer Leverkusen. This is a significant achievement for the young Dutch right-back, who left Celtic in January 2021 to join the German side.
The 22-year-old played for Celtic for 18-months, having been signed under former boss Neil Lennon from Manchester City. During his time at Celtic Park, Frimpong impressed fans and pundits alike with his pace, skill, and attacking instincts. He made a total of 51 appearances for the Hoops, scoring three goals and providing eight assists.
However, despite his promising performances, Frimpong’s departure from Celtic was somewhat acrimonious. The player himself stated that he felt he needed to leave in order to further his career, but some fans were disappointed to see him go, especially as he had signed a four-year contract just a few months earlier. It was during the tumultuous COVID season where Neil Lennon would eventually leave his post as Celtic boss.
Nevertheless, Frimpong has continued to impress since his move to Leverkusen, and his performances in the Europa League this season have been particularly noteworthy. Bayer Leverkusen defeated Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in the quarter-finals of the competition on Thursday evening, with Frimpong playing this part – getting on the scoresheet.
So why does this matter to Celtic fans?
Well, it’s all down to the sell-on clause that was included in the defender’s transfer to Leverkusen. According to reports [Scotsman], The Bhoys have a sizeable sell-on clause attached to the player, meaning that if Leverkusen sell him for big money this summer, then Celtic will be due a decent-sized fee.
Getting to the semi-final of the Europa League is sure to up the former Hoops star’s profile and potentially his transfer fee, so it’s something that Celtic fans will be keeping a close eye on in the coming weeks. Of course, it remains to be seen whether Leverkusen will indeed sell Frimpong this summer, but if they do, then the Scottish Champions could stand to benefit significantly.
Overall, it’s great to see former Parkhead players doing well on the European stage, and Frimpong’s progress with Leverkusen is certainly something that fans will be following closely. Whether he ends up being sold for a big fee or not, there’s no doubt that the young defender has a bright future ahead of him, and we wish him all the best for the rest of the Europa League campaign and beyond.
