Odin Thiago Holm is now in his second season at Celtic, but he’s still struggling to break into the first-team picture. The Norwegian midfielder arrived with promise, billed as a raw talent with potential to grow under Brendan Rodgers’ guidance. However, as it stands, his chances of making a meaningful impact on the Hoops look slimmer by the day.
Despite making three substitute appearances in August, Holm has only managed a combined 24 minutes on the pitch. Following the close of the transfer window and the arrival of players like Luke McCowan and Arne Engels on deadline day, Holm hasn’t even made the squad. That speaks volumes about his current standing within the team. Celtic’s midfield is already packed with talent, and adding these signings has pushed the young Norwegian further down the pecking order.
Holm’s absence from squads since August raises questions about his immediate future at the club. The data doesn’t lie—Rodgers clearly doesn’t see him as part of his first-team plans at the moment, and with competition so fierce in midfield, the chances are slim.
A breakthrough seems remote unless there’s an injury crisis. It’s not out of the question that his development might have benefitted from a loan move in the summer. Whether a suitable offer didn’t materialise or Rodgers wanted to keep Holm close for further development is unclear, but hindsight suggests a temporary move could have been the best option.
January Celtic Departure?
As we look ahead to the January window, a loan deal seems increasingly likely for Holm. A stint away from Celtic Park would give him much-needed game time and the chance to continue his development elsewhere. However, with the club’s recent surprise sale of Tomoki Iwata, a permanent exit can’t be ruled out either. If you’re Holm you are demanding to go somewhere for minutes. At 21, his development will be stalling.
Rodgers mentioned earlier in the season that Holm needed to do more to earn his place in the team, but with the current situation, it seems the writing might be on the wall for the young Norwegian. Unless something changes dramatically, a departure in January could be on the cards. Whether it’s a loan or a permanent move remains to be seen, but at this stage, staying at Celtic without any first-team opportunities would do little for his career trajectory.
