Marco Tilio’s time at Celtic is effectively over, with the Australian winger sealing a switch to Rapid Vienna after weeks of waiting.

Austrian outlet Kurier.at revealed the move on Tuesday, confirming Celtic have finally sanctioned the deal after initially holding back due to a lack of wide options. The transfer comes in the form of a loan with an obligation to buy if Tilio hits a set number of appearances in Vienna.

The 23-year-old arrived at Celtic from Melbourne City two summers ago with promise, but his impact was minimal. Injuries disrupted his first few months in Glasgow and even when fit, he struggled to force his way into Brendan Rodgers’ plans. He was loaned back to Melbourne eventually but now is set for a new adventure.

For weeks, Tilio’s future hung in the balance. Celtic’s shortage of wingers meant the club were reluctant to let him go until reinforcements were secured. With the club now closing in on Michael Ange Balikwisha, the green light has finally been given for the move to Austria.

The deal represents a fresh start for Tilio, who will be hoping to reignite his career in the Austrian Bundesliga. Rapid Vienna are getting a player who needs regular football to rediscover his rhythm, and the structure of the deal suggests confidence he can deliver. Should he feature consistently, the permanent clause will be triggered and Tilio’s Celtic chapter will officially close after just one season.

For Celtic, it’s a pragmatic decision. Holding on to Tilio any longer risked stalling his development while leaving the squad unbalanced. The potential arrival of Balikwisha, a more proven option at this stage, ensures Rodgers has the depth he needs out wide while allowing Tilio to move on.

It’s the right move for all parties — Celtic free up space in the squad, Rapid Vienna get a motivated winger, and Tilio finally gets the chance to show what he can do away from the Glasgow pressure cooker.