It appears Celtic are about to miss out on another reported attacking target — and for a fee that many will feel was easily within our grasp…
Sondre Orjasaeter of Norway during the UEFA European Under-21 Qualifier playoff football match between Norway and Finland on November 19, 2024 in Stavanger. Photo: Marius Simensen
Norwegian winger Sondre Ørjasæter, 21, looks set to swap Sarpsborg 08 for the Dutch Eredivisie, with FC Twente reportedly agreeing a deal in the region of €4–5 million.
According to Norwegian and Dutch outlets , terms have been settled between the clubs, and the player has been given permission to travel to the Netherlands to finalise the move.
‘AMSTERDAM- FC Twente’s technical director Jan Streuer confirmed before the match against PEC Zwolle that the Enschede club is busy strengthening its squad with the talented Norwegian attacker Sondre Orjasaeter. The Sarpsborg winger is the high-quality attacking reinforcement Streuer hopes to boost the team with. The deal is expected to be finalized in Norway shortly.
‘Orjasaeter (21), who was also linked with PSV earlier this summer, carries a hefty price tag. Norwegian sources indicate that a transfer fee of around 5 million euros should be expected. This would make Orjasaeter appear more expensive than Manfred Ugalde, FC Twente’s most expensive signing so far since the club was relegated from the Eredivisie in 2018 and returned to the top flight a year later.’
Moldes Halldor Stenevik og Sarpsborg 08s Sondre Orjasaeter under eliteseriekampen i fotball mellom Sarpsborg 08 og Molde pa Sarpsborg Stadion. Foto: Christoffer Andersen / NTB Sarpsborg Norge
For Sarpsborg, this is expected to be a record-breaking transfer, and for Twente, a significant coup. Manager Joseph Oosting is said to have personally assured Ørjasæter that his development will be at the heart of the project in Enschede, with an eye on an even bigger league in a couple of years. Perhaps that’s an assurance Celtic couldn’t match.
Celtic’s interest in Ørjasæter is not new
Celtic’s interest in Ørjasæter is not new. The winger was on the club’s radar as far back as the January transfer window, but, surprise, surprise, a deal could not be concluded. This summer, further reports linked the player with a possible move to the club, yet there’s been no concrete sign of a renewed bid. Whether the club simply chose not to re-engage in negotiations this summer, or were beaten to the punch by Twente remains unclear.
Given our current need for wide options — especially with depth and quality an issue on both flanks — the absence of movement on a player of Ørjasæter’s quality and price will raise eyebrows. Under €5 million for a 21-year-old with pace, potential development, and resale upside, should, on the surface, be well within Celtic’s financial reach, especially when the club’s bank balance is reportedly approaching the £100m mark.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha keeps Celtic waiting
This comes just a day after reports that Michel Ange Balikwisha of Royal Antwerp is making Celtic wait, preferring to see if Champions League football is secured before making a decision While patience is part of any transfer market strategy, it’s worth asking whether the club’s hesitance in moving decisively for Ørjasæter, and potentially others, is down to focusing on perceived ‘value’ above all else.
Michael Nicholson, Chief Executive of Celtic FC looks on from the stands prior to the Premiership match between Celtic FC and St Mirren FC at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Are Celtic holding out for one or two marquee names? Are we unwilling to budge from strict valuation models in a seller’s market? Or is there a list of alternative targets in the wings that the recruitment team believes offer even better potential? In the absence of any communicated strategy from the club we’re pretty much left to reach our own conclusions.
What’s certain is that Ørjasæter, it appears, isn’t Celtic bound.
What’s certain is that Ørjasæter, it appears, isn’t Celtic bound. Instead, he’s likely to be developing his skills in the Netherlands, and perhaps in a couple of years, moving on again for a significantly higher fee.
We have of course seen this before, a player long linked with the club, available at a fee that seems reasonable by our standards, ends up elsewhere while Celtic continue to play the long game. The strategy has delivered successes in the past, but has it also seen potential stars slip through the net?
Aberdeen v Celtic – Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI (IMAGO)
So, will Celtic’s ‘patience’ pay off, or will this be another case of wondering ‘what if’ when we see Sondre Ørjasæter thriving in Europe’s top competitions?
Niall J
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