Celtic’s Champions League windfall has reportedly been revealed, with the Hoops sealing a place in the Champions League knockout playoffs last night with a game to spare.
Celtic have won 3 of their 7 games in the Champions League this season, with 3 draws and just one defeat.
The Bhoys have benefited significantly financially from 6 positive results, beginning with a 5-1 win on the opening night against Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park and culminating in a 1-0 victory over Young Boys at Paradise last night.
With Aston Villa at Villa Park next Wednesday, the Hoops could add further prize money before the playoffs in what has been a significant year in Europe, both in terms of results and finances. With 11 days left in the transfer window, it appears that Celtic are saving their best business until after a place in the next round was guaranteed.
Celtic are on course to make around €60m from this season’s Champions League so far, when you factor in gate recipes, including the knockout round.
~€31.5m from the CL
€8.4m in prize money
€1m for finishing 9-24th
€14m in gate recipes
€275k for per position (place pot)— Inside The SPFL (@AgentScotland) January 22, 2025
The hope among supporters will be that Celtic can strike while the iron is hot with new signings to further strengthen the team as they aim to progress further in Europe and continue their domestic dominance in the Scottish Cup and Scottish Premiership towards the end of the season.
With such strong financial numbers and the club-record sale of Matt O’Riley last summer, it looks like Celtic’s transfer business can be taken up a gear, with more signings of the same price tag as Arne Engels and Adam Idah.
At the same time, the club will continue to look to find hidden gems for bargain fees, as they have historically done. However, there is no need to sign players for the sake of it.
Instead, Brendan Rodgers will focus on finding players who can improve the team immediately, rather than just make up the numbers. Backed during the summer transfer window, the Irishman has shown that when he is allowed to sign the players he believes the team needs, results will follow — even in the Champions League.
