Once again, Celtic have been linked with a move for former Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski – this time via the Spanish press, who note the North Macedonian’s struggles to adapt to life in La Liga with Girona…
March 15, 2025, Girona, Girona, SPAIN: Cesar Tarrega of Valencia CF and Bojan Miovski of Girona FC in action during the Spanish league, La Liga EA Sports, football match played between Girona FC and Valencia CF at Estadio de Montilivi on March 15, 2025 in Girona, Spain. Girona SPAIN – Photo Javier Borrego
Bojan Miovski, made a big-money switch to Girona last summer, but the £5 million move hasn’t gone quite to plan. Two goals in 876 La Liga minutes tells its own story, and there’s a growing feeling in Spain that Girona might be open to cutting their losses – if the price is right.
Girona sporting director Quique Cárcel has already admitted that “contracts restrict us from making any deals we want,” which means any potential exit is very much dependant on the player having his salary matched or close enough to it to consider walking away from a lucrative long-term contract.
May 5, 2025, Girona, Girona, SPAIN: Bojan Miovski of Girona FC in action during the Spanish league, La Liga EA Sports, football match played between Girona FC and RCD Mallorca at Estadio de Montilivi on May 05, 2025 in Girona, Spain. Girona SPAIN – Photo Javier Borrego
Then of course there is the fee Girona would be looking for. Miovski’s deal runs until 2028 and with Girona paying an initial £5 million – potentially rising to £8 million – they’ll be keen to recoup as much of that as possible.
Here’s what Spanish publication AS had to say about a potential deal. Note Celtic’s name is mentioned but so too are a couple of Bundesliga clubs.
‘The gamble on Bojan Miovski hasn’t worked out as everyone expected. The North Macedonian striker arrived at Montilivi after a great season in Scotland, but his adaptation to both the team and LaLiga has been rather poor. At least that’s what his stats suggest: 876 minutes in 17 league matches with just two goals. And, worst of all, the feeling that he’s nowhere near the level of players like Stuani or Portu.
Bojan Miovski of Aberdeen celebrates with team mates after scoring against theRangers in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox on 6 February 2024.Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
‘It’s no secret that Miovski has an open mind at Montilivi . But, as Quique Cárcel explained, “there are contracts that restrict us from making any deals we want.” That is, for the forward to leave, a sufficiently attractive offer must reach Montilivi, and the player must agree to leave. With a contract until 2028, Girona paid five million (which could rise to eight million with variables), so his departure is not a simple matter.’
‘In this regard, however, Girona has a major advantage: there is interest in the player. On one hand, Celtic Glasgow, who already suffered against Aberdeen and knows exactly what he’s capable of in the Scottish league, are interested. However, according to media reports in North Macedonia, the Bundesliga has also made moves to secure his services. Specifically, Freiburg and Hamburg are the two clubs that have expressed interest in Miovski.’
theRangers v Aberdeen – Premiership – Bojan Miovski scores during the cinch Premiership match at Ibrox on Tuesday February 6, 2024. Photo Steve Welsh
Celtic’s interest makes sense on paper
Celtic’s interest makes sense on paper. Miovski tormented Scottish defences in his time at Aberdeen and gave us more than a few headaches when he lined up against Celtic too. He’s proven in the league and, when on form, can be a real handful, no doubt about it.
Celtic have already made moves to strengthen the forward line this summer, signing Callum Osmand, with Japanese striker Shin Yamada probably arriving, and talk of Italian forward Giuseppe Ambrosino also doing the rounds.
Kawasaki Frontale’s Shin Yamada during the 2025 J1 League match between Kawasaki Frontale 4-0 Nagoya Grampus at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu in Kanagawa, Japan, February 15, 2025. Photo IMAGO
Pressure being applied to Miovski to consider alternative options
Then there’s the player himself. This article from Spain sounds a little like pressure being applied to Miovski to consider alternative options, allowing Girona themselves to free up the wages and bring in a transfer fee to source a replacement for a player who hasn’t yet hit the mark.
Giuseppe Ambrosino ITA, JUNE 22, 2025 – Football / Soccer : UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Slovakia Quarter-finals match between Uuder-21 Germany 3-2 Uuder-21 Italy at the DAC Arena, Dunajska Streda, Slovakia. IMAGO
Numbers don’t add up
And then there’s the cost to Celtic. Neither Yamada or the Ambrosino links are high end deals. Yamada is expected to fetch £1.5m and Ambrosino is being mooted as a loan with an option to buy, with the fee rumoured to be around £2.5m.
Girona won’t let Miovski go for those sort of figures, and certainly not for anything resembling the kind of fee Celtic usually pay unless it’s a marquee, first-choice name. For a striker with two goals in Spain last season? The numbers just don’t add up.
Aberdeen v Dundee Cinch Scottish Premiership 30-01-2024. Bojan Miovski 9 of Aberdeen during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Dundee at Pittodrie on 30 January 2024. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI
Add to that reported interest from Bundesliga sides Freiburg and Hamburg – clubs with far bigger financial leeway than us – and it starts to feel like the Spanish press are using our name to inflate his value, or perhaps Girona are playing the same game to see who bites.
So while a permanent move for Miovski would be intriguing – a proven Premiership goal-scorer with a point to prove – it doesn’t quite fit the current Celtic transfer model which Conall McGinty has been discussing in his excellent series on The Celtic Star this week.
Daizen Maeda poses with his Scottish Premiership winners medal after the season s final league match against St. Mirren on May 17, 2025. Photo IMAGO
We’re shopping for smart, affordable back up options for Daizen Maeda, it seems. This would be a costly gamble on a player struggling for form and confidence.
Could Celtic make a move if the price dramatically drops? Possibly. But with other irons in the fire, and more urgent needs elsewhere on the pitch, it’s hard to see Miovski Parkhead-bound any time soon.
But I could be wrong, it wouldn’t be the first time..
Niall J
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