Celtic has re-signed striker Jota in a move just ahead of the Champions League knockout rounds, at a significantly lower cost than the fee they received when he left for Saudi Arabia 18 months prior. The transfer fee for Jota is reported to be around 10 million euros ($10.5 million), a fraction of the 29 million euros ($30.5 million) Celtic garnered from his prior departure. Jota’s career took him from his initial time in Glasgow to Al-Ittihad for a year, and then to Rennes, before returning to Celtic.
In addition to Jota’s return, Celtic also reached an agreement with Rennes for the transfer of forward Kyogo Furuhashi, who is joining the French club for an estimated 12 million euros ($12.6 million). Furuhashi played his last match for Celtic last Wednesday during the Champions League, where he notably had three goals ruled out in the first half of what would be a narrow 1-0 victory against Young Boys.
This win ensured that Celtic secured a spot in the knockout playoff round, and Jota will be eligible to participate when the matches commence on February 11. However, he will not be able to feature in Celtic’s last group phase game against Aston Villa on Wednesday. The playoff draw is scheduled for Friday. Jota, who is 25 years old, has signed a contract that will keep him with Celtic until June 2030.
Since joining Celtic in 2021, Furuhashi has made a significant impact, averaging a goal every two games and playing a crucial role in securing three consecutive Scottish league titles. He is now tasked with bringing that same level of performance to Rennes, which is currently struggling in Ligue 1, sitting in the 16th position with only 17 points from 19 matches and faced with the threat of relegation.
Furuhashi has signed a contract for 2.5 years and is the third addition to Rennes during the January transfer window. He expressed his eagerness to contribute positively to the team, acknowledging the club’s current struggles and his desire to help them ascend the league standings. “I feel ready to give my all with Rennes,” he shared.
