After multiple transfer windows of interest, it seems that Celtic could finally be set to land the signing of Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
The Royal Antwerp winger has reportedly been waiting patiently for the clubs to agree a deal, with his heart set on a move to Glasgow.
Should his wish be granted, he would be the Hoops’ seventh arrival in a summer which has already seen the likes of Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren unveiled at Celtic Park.
Brendan Rodgers has been clear that he wants to add goals to his team, with Nicolas Kuhn’s move to Como complete and Kyogo Furuhashi still yet to be properly replaced.
With the Daily Record now reporting that the Hoops are ready to try and close a deal, let’s take a look at three possible winners and losers from the potential deal.
Winners from Michel-Ange Balikwisha to Celtic transfer
Adam Idah
After question marks were raised over his hefty price tag, Adam Idah still managed an impressive tally of 20 goals last season, despite not always featuring from the start.
Locked in competition with Daizen Maeda for the first-choice number nine slot, Idah offers a different profile to the Japan international, more involved in aerial and back-to-goal situations.
This style of play could suit Balikwisha. The Belgian is known for providing service on either foot, also frequently being used as a set-piece taker in his homeland.
As a striker who thrives off good service, the arrival of the winger could signal a change in fortune for Idah’s minutes, should he strike a partnership with the 24-year-old.
Kieran Tierney
Much of the best football of Kieran Tierney’s career has been played under Brendan Rodgers – so the two linking up again this season is an exciting prospect for Celtic fans.
Rodgers is not the sole reason for this, however. At the beginning of his first Hoops spell in 2016, the Irishman added another key presence to his left flank: Scott Sinclair.
Balikwisha offers a strikingly similar profile to Sinclair. Deadly when isolated one-on-one against defenders with an eye for cutting inside towards goal, the Belgian could lay the groundwork for Tierney’s marauding, overlapping runs to return.
If it works half as well as last time, this dynamic could bring serious rewards for the Celts as they search for a fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title.
Arne Engels
Engels and Balikwisha have linked up in Belgium’s youth setup on a number of occasions, including at the U21 European Championship in 2023.
This potential reuniting goes beyond just shared nationality, though. When Engels replaced Matt O’Riley in Celtic’s midfield last summer, it signalled a shift in what Rodgers demanded from the role.
In switching from a technically gifted playmaker to a tireless, explosive runner, the Hoops boss created a need for goals to come from elsewhere – this, however, led to criticism of the record signing’s output.
The potential arrival’s direct style, coupled with his pre-existing relationship with Engels, could create a potential “best of both worlds” situation.
Losers from Michel-Ange Balikwisha to Celtic transfer
Yang Hyun-Jun
23-year-old Yang Hyun-Jun has now spent two years on the periphery of Celtic’s starting eleven, struggling to nail down a consistent spot.
He has shown flashes of real ability since arriving from South Korea in 2023, but these have been outshone by competitors such as Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn and James Forrest.
The departure of Kuhn created a potential opening for the South Korean international, but the potential incoming of Balikwisha could indicate a need for him to find more regular football.
A possible saving grace for Yang could be Balikwisha’s preference for the left wing, but with further wide additions still on the radar, a loan or permanent departure could be best for all parties.
Johnny Kenny
Unlike Yang, many expected that Johnny Kenny’s departure this summer would be a foregone conclusion, but a positive pre-season has suggested otherwise.
Despite the arrivals of Shin Yamada and Callum Osmand adding even more competition to the striker position, Kenny holds the respect of Brendan Rodgers, evidenced by his appearance in matches such as last season’s Scottish Cup Final.
However, UEFA’s player registration rules create a dilemma. The need for homegrown players essentially means that a maximum of 17 foreign players can be included in the Hoops’ European squads.
The rumoured signing of Balikwisha and potentially others makes Kenny a likely victim of this selection headache – despite his impressive pre-season showing.
James Forrest
Celtic’s 2025-26 league campaign ended in a huge victory lap for James Forrest, as he broke the record for scoring in the most consecutive seasons by a Celtic player.
However, the one-club man’s later years have been characterised by less first-team minutes, despite the winger proving to still be a useful squad member when involved.
If Yang were to stay, Balikwisha would be an even bigger threat to Forrest’s potential action, particularly if he were to be deployed on both wings.
It could still, however, be argued that this is a price worth paying for improving Rodgers’ attacking options, with improvement more important in football than sentimentality.