Celtic have officially announced the acquisition of Norwegian forward Kasper Hogh from Bodø/Glimt in a deal that sets a new club record, reportedly worth £11 million plus performance-related add-ons. The 25-year-old, who has been identified as Celtic's top target for the centre-forward role this summer, has signed a four-year contract with the Glasgow side, and the club retains an option to extend the agreement by an additional year if desired. The interest in Hogh first emerged in January when Celtic made an initial enquiry.
However, Bodø/Glimt's impressive run in the UEFA Champions League, which saw them reach the last 16 and secure a memorable victory over Atletico Madrid with Hogh on the scoresheet, convinced the Norwegian club to keep the striker for the remainder of the European campaign. Over the course of his time with Bodø/Glimt, Hogh amassed an impressive 53 goals in 102 appearances, demonstrating a consistent knack for finding the net. Now the 25-year-old joins Celtic as the second major signing of the summer, ahead of the club's opening Premiership fixture against Dundee, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
In his first media interview, Hogh expressed his enthusiasm for the move: "I am thrilled. Walking into the room and seeing the Celtic shirt made my heart race. The club's history is massive, and after speaking with family and friends, I felt this was the right step for me. The excitement I felt was undeniable." When asked what fans could expect from his style of play, Hogh explained, "I love being in the box and finishing chances, but I also want to contribute defensively and work hard for the team.
I've been training all summer and have already featured in league games back in Norway, so I feel fully prepared and eager to get started." Sky Sports analyst Anthony Joseph described the signing as a "statement move" for Celtic, noting that the £11m-plus fee represents a significant investment and should generate optimism among supporters. He added that, while football outcomes are always uncertain, the deal looks like a genuine coup on paper, especially given the surprise that Premier League clubs and other top European teams did not intervene.
Manager Martin O'Neill praised Hogh as the type of player Celtic need to compete at the highest level, a sentiment echoed by the fanbase. This acquisition follows the earlier £6m signing of Qarabag forward Camilo Duran, who impressed with five Champions League goals last season, suggesting a shift in Celtic's transfer strategy ahead of a crucial European qualifier. Historically, Celtic's transfer activity has been erratic. The previous season saw little activity before a Champions League play-off, which ended in a disappointing exit to Kairat Almaty.
The subsequent summer transfer window was chaotic, with several high-profile targets such as Kasper Dolberg, David Datro Fofana and Manuel Benson falling through, and a £3m move for Hyunjun Yang collapsing after miscommunication between the clubs. The lack of incoming talent after the sale of key players like Nicolas Kuhn, Adam Idah and even Kyogo Furuhashi in January sparked widespread fan protests, boycotts and the "Not Another Penny" campaign urging supporters to stop purchasing club merchandise. These frustrations contributed to a public dispute between former manager Brendan Rodgers and principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, ultimately leading to Rodgers' resignation in October.
The turmoil continued when Celtic appointed and then dismissed Wilfried Nancy within a 33-day span, and the January window saw no significant spending beyond loan deals and the free signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Despite securing a domestic double, the fan unrest persisted, intensifying after CEO Michael Nicholson's remarks about dealing with "difficult" agents and the difficulty of competing with English Championship clubs. With £17m already invested in two high‑profile forwards, the pressure on the board appears to be easing, at least temporarily. The transfer window remains open for another month, and following the £10m departure of Daizen Maeda, Celtic could still see further exits, potentially involving Reo Hatate and Arne Engels.
The club is reportedly exploring additional signings, including Egyptian World Cup winger Haissem Hassan to add depth on the flanks, and a possible deal for Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur, who could serve as a replacement for any departing midfielders. Beyond player acquisitions, Celtic still need to fill several key back‑room positions such as head of football operations, head of recruitment, and player pathways manager, and there is speculation about the future of the managerial role for next season. Whether the board is finally responding to supporter concerns or this was a pre‑planned summer overhaul remains to be seen.
However, the arrival of Duran and Hogh before the season kicks off provides a more promising outlook for Celtic's attacking options and may help restore confidence among the fanbase as they look ahead to domestic and European challenges.