What does Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive tell us about Celtic’s transfer dealings? The internet’s most famous transfer expert had this to say just after 11am of Friday morning…
‘EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland agree deal to sign Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, here we go! Deal done for £3.5m fee, five year contract to the player as it’s all agreed. Celtic had verbal agreement in place but #SAFC hijack the move.’
We knew that Celtic had reached a deal to sign the winger from the Israeli club and many, including Conall McGinty writing on The Celtic Star were not happy at all with Celtic trading with a club whose owner has clear links with the Israeli military.
The player was even quoted talking about the deal being done for him to join Celtic. Then we heard the deal was off. The winger was carrying an ankle injury and initial estimates stated he’d miss around two weeks but this had escalated to say that Celtic believed he now needed surgery. As this time Sunderland were mentioned for the first time as being keen to take the player.
🚨🔴⚪️ EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland agree deal to sign Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, here we go!
Deal done for £3.5m fee, five year contract to the player as it’s all agreed.
Celtic had verbal agreement in place but #SAFC hijack the move. pic.twitter.com/8nMHHMEi8f
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 16, 2026
From Romano’s post on social media we now understand that Celtic’s interest got no further than a verbal agreement and until a contract is signed other clubs could step in, as has happened here.
It’s also worth mentioning that Martin O’Neill admitted that he has rejected names that have been put in front of him and the reasons for this happening could be many. Signings that were lined up by Wilfried Nancy (remember Michael Nicholson pledging to back the Frenchman in the January window). Martin may have looked at the list and said thanks but no thanks.
He might also have decided against further ‘club signings’ also known as ‘project signings’ or in the days of Peter Lawwell ‘punts’. That perhaps what has happened here with the Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi.
Or perhaps the Israeli club and/or the player played Celtic, using their firm interest to push up the transfer fee by £500k and more than likely the player’s wages too. Also Ta Bi gets to join a Premier League club, to be fair, the dream for most African footballers. Good luck to the boy at Sunderland but from start to finish this is a prime example of amateur hour in Celtic’s transfer dealings.
World Class in Everything We Do, Michael Nicholson is unlikely to comment on this deal falling through, why he failed to read the room with the support and also how he may have been played.
Welcome to Sunderland AFC, Jocelin Ta Bi! 😍🇨🇮
The Ivorian makes a permanent move to Wearside from Maccabi Netanya, signing a four-and-a-half year deal.
✍️ @livescore pic.twitter.com/K2pURVHldQ
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 16, 2026
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Just watched Sky Sports News, they say he passed his medical and there is no need for any surgery. WTF is going in at Celtic, are they just scared of the antisemitic mob in the, so called, green brigade 🤮
Phenomenal headline. Writer (or sub-editor) should get a bonus just for that.
It is a good headline,tbf.