Reo Hatate’s Celtic career looks increasingly likely to be over, with developments elsewhere in the squad pointing towards a departure.
Hatate reportedly informed Celtic in June that he wanted to leave after four-and-a-half years in green and white.
Now, Celtic’s progress in their pursuit of Mika Baur only adds to the feeling that the Japanese midfielder is heading for the exit.
The Hoops and Paderborn have reportedly agreed a £4.5 million fee for Baur, with another £2.3 million potentially due in add-ons. A considerable chunk of those bonuses would be triggered if Celtic reach the league phase of the Champions League.
Baur has been cleared to travel to Glasgow and, given the similarities in profile, his arrival would look very much like Celtic preparing for life without Hatate in the middle of the park.
It also raises serious questions over Hatate’s involvement in either Champions League play-off leg against LASK.
Martin O’Neill has left the 28-year-old on the bench for Celtic’s opening two Premiership matches of the 2026/27 season.
Callum McGregor, Arne Engels and Benjamin Nygren have been preferred as the midfield three. More tellingly, Luke McCowan has been called from the bench ahead of Hatate.
For a player who has been such a prominent part of Celtic’s midfield since arriving in Glasgow, that is difficult to ignore.
Recent reports have linked him with interest from clubs in France and MLS. There has been no news of an official bid, but Baur’s imminent arrival would push him further down the pecking order at Celtic Park.
Hatate made his own position clear more than two months ago. If Celtic are now spending significant money on another midfielder who can occupy similar areas and perform a similar role, sanctioning Hatate’s departure in the coming weeks would make sense for both sides.
He joined Celtic from Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022 for around £1.4 million and has provided serious value on that investment.
Hatate has made 189 appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals and providing 31 assists.
He has also collected five Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups during a hugely successful spell in Glasgow.
There have been periods when Hatate has been one of Celtic’s most influential players, capable of producing passes and finishes that few others in Scotland could see, never mind execute.
But his current position is clear enough.
He wants to leave and he has started the season on the bench, while others are being used ahead of him and Celtic are closing in on another midfielder. The direction of travel is becoming increasingly difficult to miss.
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3 responses
Good luck Spud.
You could have been a great
On his day, Hatate was an absolute joy to watch. A genuine ‘one-off’. Sadly, however, those days are now distant memories as, for whatever reason, his star has waned at Celtic. Assuming he does move on, he will hopefully resurrect his undoubted class, and rekindle the enthusiasm he once had. Yes, thanks for some great memories, Reo, and good luck in the future.
Thanks for the memories Reo , his goals that night that put us top of the league against the Rainjurz under Ange are memories that will stick with me forever , great player on his day but for whatever reason these performances have diminished, all the best Reo hope you find your happiness HH