Celtic winger Liel Abada is nearing completion of his move to FC Charlotte. The 22-year-old has not been involved with matchday squads since the win at Easter Road at the beginning of last month as a departure looked inevitable in some form.
Now, US journalist Tom Bogert for The Athletic, has stated that the medical has been completed with the deal expected to be completed within the next 24 hours.
Sources: Israeli int’l winger Liel Abada has completed his medical ahead of a big transfer to Charlotte FC from Celitc. Deal should be all done within next 24 hours.
Abada will hit Charlotte’s roster as a young DP.
The 22 y/o winger a key reinforcement for Dean Smith’s group. https://t.co/08XoT2T9Un
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) March 5, 2024
It is expected that the deal will be worth £11m with £8m of that coming in an upfront payment from the MLS side and the rest forming add-ons. It is quite a good bit of business even if it is bittersweet to see Abada leave in these terms, especially given some of his brilliant moments in a Celtic shirt. Although, the hostility that the player received on social media from his homeland as a result of his employment by Celtic have clearly been too much to overcome.
The deal will see Abada swap the Scottish Champions for a role as a young designated player under Dean Smith, who was brought in to replace Rodgers at Leicester City last year. No doubt Rodgers has informed Smith about Abada’s qualities as an attacker to further sweeten the deal.
Since arriving in the summer of 2021, Abada was an excellent acquisition by Celtic and Ange Postecoglou. The winger made 106 appearances, and assisted 21 times while netting on 29 occasions.
