In the summer of 2015, Celtic released ten players from their first team, with two of them later attaining legendary status in the English Premier League.
In that transfer window, the Scottish champions acquired players such as Jozo Simunovic, Ryan Christie, and Dedryck Boyata with the aim of successfully defending their league title.
However, we're more intrigued by the players Celtic sold in 2015 and their subsequent developments.
Joe Chalmers
Even though he showed potential, several injury issues stopped Chalmers from establishing himself at Celtic. The left-footed player subsequently signed a two-year deal with Motherwell.
In his early 30s, Chalmers has dedicated his whole professional life to Scottish clubs, having played for Inverness CT, Ross County, and Ayr United prior to joining his present team, Dunfermline, in 2022.
Lukasz Zaluska
Zaluska dedicated six years to Parkhead, serving as backup for Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon, yet he still managed to feature in 28 matches for Celtic.
The goalkeeper played for one season with the German team Darmstadt 98 prior to going back to his home country of Poland, where he stayed until retiring in 2020.
Teemu Pukki
The transfer of Pukki to Brondby in 2015, having been planned a year earlier, represented a significant blunder by Celtic.
Even though the forward didn't have a fruitful spell in Scotland, he netted 88 times for Norwich from 2018 to 2023.
In his mid-30s now, Pukki has returned to Finland playing for HJK Helsinki and managed to score two goals in their 4-0 victory against his old team, KTP, in February 2025.
John Herron
Since departing Celtic in 2015, Herron has had a varied career, suiting up for teams across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia, and Gibraltar.
At the age of 31, this midfielder is currently playing for Ballymena United in the Irish Football League.
Holmbert Friojonsson
Celtic spent £100,000 on Friojonsson in 2013, yet the Icelandic forward failed to make much of an impact during his one-and-a-half-year tenure with the team, not making any appearances.
His most fruitful period was with the Norwegian team Aalesunds FK, during which Friðjónsson netted 36 goals in 67 matches.
The forward, who has scored two goals in six matches with the Icelandic national squad, currently competes for Preußen Münster in Germany.
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Adam Matthews
As part of the squad that infamously defeated Barcelona in 2012, Matthews is presently suiting up for Shamrock Rovers in Ireland.
Before relocating to Dublin early in 2025, he had stints with Sunderland, Bristol City, Charlton, and Omonia.
Stephen McPhail, who serves as the sporting director for Rovers, was once teammates with Matthews at Cardiff City. This connection influenced Rovers' manager, Stephen Bradley, when deciding to bring Matthews onto the team.
[Matthews] will contribute immensely valuable experience, and his performance on the field speaks volumes," Bradley stated, "We believe he has what it takes to elevate our team to new heights.
Amido Balde
After signing for £1.2 million from Vitoria Guimaraes in June 2013, Balde proved to be yet another significant financial misstep.
The tall forward was strongly endorsed to Neil Lennon, yet managed only three goals in his error-prone 20 outings for Celtic.
Since being let go from Parkhead nine years ago, Balde has suited up for 12 distinct clubs worldwide, though he doesn’t have a team at present.
He remains one of Celtic’s most puzzling acquisitions.
Jackson Irvine
Wearing one of the finest hairstyles in football still today, Irvine now plays for St. Pauli in the Bundesliga.
Following his single senior appearance for Celtic, Irvine appears to be thriving in Germany as well. He shared this with Closed: "I moved to Hamburg after spending over ten years playing football in Scotland and England."
I cherished my time there because it provided me with the chance to pursue a career in professional football.
Yet, I longed for something distinct, an entirely new approach to my lifestyle and football setting.
It took just one conversation with St. Pauli to realize this was where I belonged.
Dylan McGeouch
As a young fan of Celtic, McGeouch trained at both Old Firm clubs' youth systems before joining Celtic's academy in the early 2010s.
Following two goals in his 27 appearances for the team, the midfielder was transferred to Hibernian subsequent to a fruitful loan period in Edinburgh.
Before joining his present team, Carlisle United, in 2023, he played for clubs including Sunderland, Aberdeen, and Forest Green Rovers.
McGeouch also earned two appearances for Scotland in 2018.
Virgil van Dijk
Who?
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