Celtic Exiles Proving Their Worth: Iheanacho, Engels, Hatate
Celtic’s summer exiles are wasting no time proving their worth.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate all left Glasgow under different clouds and for different reasons, each of them nudged toward the exit with a sense that their Celtic story had run its course. A few weeks on, all three look reborn.
Iheanacho on fire in Turkey
No one has hit the ground running quite like Iheanacho. The Nigerian striker has exploded into life at Bursaspor, racking up six goals and two assists in his first five league matches. He has scored in every single league outing so far.
For a player whose Celtic career never fully caught fire, this is a statement. Iheanacho looks sharp, confident, ruthless in front of goal. The numbers are not flattering him; they’re underlining a forward playing with freedom again.
Engels finds his stride at West Ham
Engels’ start at West Ham has been more gradual, but the trajectory is clear. After a difficult debut, the Belgian has begun to show why the London club were willing to pay a record fee for a Championship side to land him from Celtic.
He registered an assist in a 4-2 win over Wolves, then followed it up with a complete midfield display against Derby County. Six chances created, eight recoveries, and a 3-0 victory that showcased both his craft and his graft.
West Ham supporters have quickly picked up on it. The online reaction has been warm, the quality that tempted them in the first place now visible in claret and blue rather than green and white.
Hatate lights up Burnley debut
Hatate’s move felt different. Celtic’s decision to sell the maverick midfielder to Burnley for £6.5m plus add-ons, right at the end of the window, raised eyebrows. He had been a creative heartbeat at Celtic Park; losing him so late was a jolt.
Burnley, though, wasted no time. Hatate went straight into the starting XI against Bristol City and immediately looked at home. He set up Burnley’s opening goal, showcasing the vision and sharpness that made him such a favourite in Glasgow.
The match ended in a 2-1 defeat, but Hatate’s individual display stood out. Manager Nicky Hayen, who had previously faced him during Brendan Rodgers’ first season back at Celtic, did not hide his admiration for the Japanese playmaker’s impact.
A different kind of Celtic afterlife
Leaving Celtic Park can be a shock to the system. Many players discover quickly that the grass on the other side is not quite as lush as it looked from the stands in Glasgow’s east end.
This trio are bucking that trend. Iheanacho is scoring for fun, Engels is bedding into the Premier League grind, Hatate is already pulling strings in Burnley’s midfield.
For Celtic, it reflects well when former players thrive. For the players themselves, it raises a more tantalising question: if this is only the start, how far can they push on from here?
