Yang Hyun-jun's Match-Winning Performance for Celtic
Yang Hyun-jun walked off in Paisley with the look of a man who knew he’d just left a mark – and left a gap.
At The Marbill Coaches Stadium, with the game balanced on a knife-edge at 1-1, the 24-year-old South Korean cut inside on 68 minutes and buried his chance to put Celtic 2-1 up against St Mirren. One touch, one clean finish, one decisive moment. It was enough to win the match, and enough to underline just how far he has travelled in a year.
The goal owed plenty to the work of Camilo Duran, whose terrific assist sliced open the Buddies’ back line. Yang still had plenty to do, but he made it look simple, shaping his body, picking his spot, and then disappearing under a wave of green-and-white celebrations. The photos told the story: arms aloft, face lit up, team-mates racing to him. A match-winner, and he knew it.
A parting gift from Celtic’s form winger
For Celtic, it felt like the perfect parting gift. For now, at least.
Yang now heads off to join the South Korea squad for the Asian Games, his form for club and country finally aligned. His performance in Paisley maintained what has been an eye-catching start to the new campaign, full of direct running, sharp movement and, crucially, end product.
That’s the problem for Martin O’Neill. Yang’s departure means he will miss Wednesday night’s trip to Perth to face St Johnstone, the looming Glasgow Derby double header against Rangers, and the Europa League opener against Hungarian runners-up Ferencvaros. These are not the weeks any manager wants to lose one of his key assets.
Yet that is exactly what Yang has become.
A year ago, his omission from the team sheet would barely have raised an eyebrow. Now, his absence feels like a body blow to both O’Neill and the Celtic support.
Left flank locked down
What has changed? For a start, Yang looks completely at home on the left-hand side of Celtic’s attack.
He hugs the touchline when needed, drives inside when the space opens, and never shies away from taking on his man. On the opposite flank, Haissem Hassan offers similar comfort and balance, even if the Egyptian international is still waiting on the numbers to match his promise. That will come. The shape is there, the intent is there. The finishing touch is all that’s missing.
Yang, though, already has that touch. His strike against St Mirren was his second goal in as many games, following on from his finish against Aberdeen at Celtic Park last Wednesday night. Two games, two goals, both at important moments. This is not a winger just providing tricks and stepovers; this is a forward who knows the route to goal.
Those qualities will be sorely missed in Perth, in the white heat of the Glasgow derbies, and on a European night when Celtic will want to set the tone at home to Ferencvaros. These are exactly the fixtures where a wide player who can decide games is worth his weight in gold.
From almost sold to almost indispensable
Perhaps the most striking part of Yang’s story is how close Celtic came to losing him.
Around this time last year, he was on the verge of a move to Birmingham City for a fee of just £3 million. That deal collapsed amid the wider failings of the summer 2025 transfer window, a messy episode every Celtic supporter can recite by heart. It felt like a footnote then. It doesn’t now.
Since then, Yang has fought for his place, sharpened his game, and turned himself into a genuine first-team asset. Under the guidance of the veteran Irishman in the dugout, his improvement has been stark. Stronger in duels, more decisive in the final third, more consistent in his decision-making. This is development you can see, not just in the numbers but in the way defenders now back off when he squares them up.
Look back at the images from Paisley: Yang celebrating with Liam Scales, embraced by team-mates, the away end roaring. This is no longer a fringe player enjoying a rare moment. This is a central figure in Celtic’s attacking plan.
So when supporters talk about his absence as a “massive blow”, they are not exaggerating. The transformation over 12 months is the proof.
What comes next?
If Yang continues on this trajectory under O’Neill across the rest of the season, the conversation will shift again. From “Can he make it at Celtic?” to “How long can Celtic keep him?”
Carry on like this and it is easy to imagine clubs circling by next summer, testing the resolve of the board with serious offers. The figure being mentioned already is in the £25 million bracket and above. A year ago, that would have sounded fanciful. Now, it feels like the logical next step if his current form holds.
For the moment, though, the reality is simpler.
Celtic have a winger playing the best football of his career, one who has just delivered a match-winning performance in Paisley and then packed his bags for international duty. The team must find a way to cope without him in a critical run of games. The manager must reshuffle. The support must hope the momentum he has built carries straight through when he returns.
Enjoy Yang Hyun-jun while he’s here. Because if this rise continues, Celtic may not be able to hold onto him for very long.
