The explanation for why Celtic missed out on signing Jesurun Rak-Sakyi from Crystal Palace this summer has come to light…

Brendan Rodgers manager of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

As Brendan Rodgers sought to strengthen his attack, Celtic were reportedly interested in a last-minute loan deal for the winger. In the end, the transfer fell through, and Rak-Sakyi is still at Selhurst Park.

According to freelance journalist Mark Hendry on his Substack, Celtic couldn’t secure the 22-year-old because Crystal Palace were only willing to sell, not loan, the player.

Reports suggested that last season’s FA Cup winners were asking for £12 million for Rak-Sakyi, a price Celtic were unsurprisingly unwilling to meet.

Even if a loan had been permitted, Palace insisted on including a compulsory purchase clause at the same £12 million fee, which Celtic were again unwilling to accept.

While Rak-Sakyi is reportedly not part of Oliver Glasner’s plans for the upcoming season, he has still been listed as a homegrown player in their UEFA Conference League squad.

Feeling a bit sorry for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi… 15 goals and 8 assists at Charlton in 22/23 was very promising.

Since then: blocked loans, a decent season at Sheffield United and failed permanent transfers. pic.twitter.com/hYsbFFuVf9

— Luke Weaser-Seychell 🏆🏆 (@Luke_Seychell) September 3, 2025

Ultimately, even though Celtic lost out on the England U21 international, the club did sign Tunisian winger Sebastian Tounekti for £5.2 million before the transfer window closed.

Sirius Isak Bjerkebo and Hammarby’s Sebastian Tounekti during the football match in Allsvenskan between Sirius and Hammarby on August 24, 2025 in Uppsala Photo TOBIAS STERNER

Celtic wrapped up the transfer window by bringing in 11 new players, including Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand, Ross Doohan, Hayato Inamura, Shin Yamada, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Marcelo Saracchi, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Tounekti, and the free transfer of Kelechi Iheanacho.

Players who left the building over the window included Nicolas Kuhn, Adam Idah, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Marco Tilio, Kwon, Greg Taylor, Scott Bain, Luis Palma, Maik Nawrocki, Stephen Welsh, Adam Montgomery, and Josh Clarke.

Adam Idah scores his team’s first goal past Emiliano Martinez during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Celtic at Villa Park on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Celtic finished the transfer window with an estimated net gain of about £13.6 million, excluding sell-on fees from Jeremie Frimpong’s switch to Liverpool and Ben Doak’s move to Bournemouth. Including those sums, the board likely secured around £20 million in total transfer profits—a remarkable feet, considering they sold Idah without bringing in a replacement, and have also not adequately replaced Kyogo who left in January.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Eighties – Out Now! In Celtic shops on Friday…

Celtic in the Eighties by the late, great David Potter is out now on Celtic Star Books. Celtic in the Eighties is now available in the Celtic superstore and all other club shops. And don’t forget that you can still purchase your copy directly from Celticstarbooks.com for same day postage.