Celtic have once again demonstrated their ability to extract maximum value from players on the fringes of the squad, securing a remarkable £12.5 million in transfer fees for individuals who had little or no future at the club over the past 12 months.

The most significant chunk of this total came from Alexandro Bernabei, who moved on after a largely unremarkable spell at Celtic Park. The Argentine left-back struggled to make an impact under Brendan Rodgers, following two seasons where game time was hard to come by.

However, a loan move to Internacional in Brazil turned his fortunes around, as he rebuilt his reputation with consistent performances.

Celtic’s refusal to include a pre-agreed fee in the loan deal proved to be a masterstroke. Internacional, keen to retain Bernabei permanently after his resurgence, were forced into a bidding situation, allowing Celtic to secure a £5 million deal—far more than a predetermined fee would likely have delivered.

Similarly, the club cashed in on Bosun Lawal for £2 million from Stoke City, despite the Irish defender never making a senior appearance for the Hoops.

Mikey Johnston, another player deemed surplus to requirements, fetched £3 million from West Brom after a productive loan spell at The Hawthorns. Once seen as a future Celtic star, Johnston never quite fulfilled his potential in Glasgow but managed to rebuild his career prospects in the English Championship in a four month stint last season.

Oh Hyeon-gyu, the South Korean striker, rounded out the list with a £2.5 million move. A figure that is lower than some media outlets have claimed but CeltsAreHere are confident is correct.

While he showed flashes of promise during his time at the club, he was ultimately unable to dislodge more established forwards in the squad, and Celtic wisely took the opportunity to recoup their investment.

This run of business highlights how far the club has come in terms of player trading. Where once fringe players might have been released or sold for nominal fees, the current structure ensures Celtic maximise their return, even for those who fail to establish themselves in the first team. It’s an approach that keeps the club’s finances robust and ready for reinvestment.

Of course, the next step is ensuring this money is reinvested effectively. While the club has shown expertise in selling players, the challenge remains in consistently identifying and recruiting top talent. Still, these sales highlight the financial strength of Celtic’s operation, even when dealing with players on the periphery.

This is all before we talk about the hefty fee for Matt O’Riley who was our top player last season.