Sondre Orjasaeter reportedly turned down the chance to join Celtic in favour of a move to Dutch side FC Twente, with the player’s reasoning now laid bare by the club’s technical director.
The Hoops had identified Orjasaeter as a potential January signing, and while it appeared Brendan Rodgers had since turned his attention elsewhere, it’s now emerged that the striker rejected Parkhead in favour of a move to the Netherlands.
Twente’s sporting director Jan Streuer revealed that the club beat Celtic to the 21-year-old’s signature after the player made it clear where he wanted to develop.
Celtic have been actively looking to add firepower to their front line, and the uncertainty around other attacking options. But Orjasaeter, viewed as a high-upside addition for the future, opted for a different path.
The Dutch side have now confirmed that Orjasaeter was presented with several offers, but his preference to play in the Netherlands ultimately swung the deal.
He said: (RecordSport), “He definitely had more options. Celtic, for example, also wanted him; he’s been there.
“He could have gone to other countries, but he really wanted to go to the Netherlands.
“In my opinion, that’s also a great step for a young player’s development.”
Rodgers is still looking to bring in a new striker before the transfer window closes, with Celtic pushing to add more firepower up front. Missing out on Orjasaeter could raise doubts about how strongly the club can compete with other European sides for top young talent.
The £6.5m fee involved also shows the kind of financial pressure Celtic face, with Dutch clubs like Twente now able to outspend even Scotland’s biggest team to land promising players.
Even though Orjasaeter has chosen to go elsewhere, Celtic are still working on other deals and remain in talks with several targets across the continent. There’s still time, but the need to find the right addition is growing more urgent.
Rodgers has been clear he is after the right players, not just numbers, but with time running out, the club may need to act quickly to get the quality they are after.
