Celtic Exiles Shine: Iheanacho, Engels, and Hatate Thrive
Celtic’s summer exiles are wasting no time in proving their worth.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate all left Glasgow under very different clouds, each of them sensing their future lay elsewhere. A few weeks on, all three are already shaping stories of resurgence and validation away from Celtic Park.
Iheanacho catches fire in Turkey
No one has exploded quite like Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Nigerian striker has been reborn at Bursaspor, rattling in six goals and supplying two assists in just five league games. He has scored in every single league outing so far, a ruthless streak that instantly marks him out as the focal point of his new side.
For a player whose Celtic spell never fully caught fire, this is a sharp, emphatic response. The numbers are not flattering statistics; they are evidence of a forward playing with freedom again, leading the line with the confidence of a man who knows exactly where the goal is.
Engels starts to show his price tag
Arne Engels’ start in England has been more of a slow burn, but the flame is clearly there.
After a difficult debut, the Belgian has settled into life at West Ham and begun to justify the record fee Celtic banked for a Championship-bound player. He delivered an assist in a 4-2 win over Wolves, then followed it up with a standout display against Derby County.
In that 3-0 victory, Engels created six chances and made eight recoveries, a blend of craft and graft that underlined why West Ham moved for him. Supporters have picked up on it quickly, praising his impact and hinting at a player who could become a central figure in their season.
The raw talent Celtic once nurtured is now being showcased in a different claret and blue.
Hatate brings spark to Burnley
Reo Hatate’s exit was the surprise of the trio.
Burnley swooped late in the window, paying £6.5m plus add-ons to prise the Japanese playmaker away on deadline day. He was thrown straight into the starting XI against Bristol City and responded in the way Celtic fans know well – by making something happen.
Hatate set up Burnley’s opening goal, immediately flashing the creative edge that made him such a key figure in Glasgow. Burnley still slipped to a 2-1 defeat, but his performance did not go unnoticed.
Manager Nicky Hayen, who previously faced Hatate during Brendan Rodgers’ first season back at Celtic Park in a 1-1 draw, was quick to praise his new midfielder. The familiarity has turned into trust, and Hayen has already shown he is prepared to build around Hatate’s flair.
A different kind of Celtic legacy
Plenty of players have discovered that life after Celtic Park can be unforgiving. The step away from the intensity, expectation and rhythm of Glasgow has tripped up more than a few.
This time, the early evidence points in another direction.
Iheanacho is scoring for fun in Turkey. Engels is winning over West Ham fans with substance as well as style. Hatate has walked straight into the Burnley team and made an instant contribution.
When former players thrive, it reflects well on the club that helped shape them. For Celtic, watching this trio seize their fresh starts is more than a passing curiosity. It is a reminder that what happens after Glasgow can say just as much about the club as what happens inside it.
