Balikwisha Set for Celtic Switch as Transfer Talks Accelerate
Celtic are making waves in the transfer market again, closing in on a £5 million capture of Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Royal Antwerp. It’s not the first time the 24-year-old’s name has popped up in connection with the Scottish champions. Last summer, Celtic scouts flagged him after his impressive displays for Antwerp, but at that time, his price tag seemed out of reach. Things changed quickly when Antwerp, wary of losing him for nothing as his contract runs down, dropped their demands to a more workable figure.
Balikwisha offers exactly the kind of attacking flexibility Brendan Rodgers has been craving. This is a guy who feels just as comfortable darting down the left as he is cutting in from the right. Across 141 games in the Belgian top flight, he’s racked up 29 goals and 14 assists. And it’s not just domestic showings that caught Celtic's eye—Balikwisha has faced top European defenders in the Champions League, which definitely adds to his appeal.
The need for fresh blood out wide became even more obvious after Nicolas Kühn packed his bags for Como FC earlier this window. To make things trickier, Jota’s injury means Rodgers has fewer options for those tricky matches where you need something a little different on the flanks. Balikwisha, still in his prime, could be the answer to a headache that’s only grown with a patchy injury record in the squad.
Sure, Balikwisha’s last season was no fairy tale. Injuries kept him sidelined for long periods, and when he did make it onto the pitch, he was still chasing the form that made him a hot prospect. But the feeling inside Celtic Park is that Rodgers can get the best out of him. Previous players with injury setbacks have found new gears under the manager’s watch, and the club’s medical team have experience easing new signings back to regular action.
Attacking Reinforcements Signal Celtic’s Ambition
This move isn’t happening in isolation. Celtic have already brought in Benjamin Nygren—a versatile forward with bags of potential. Securing Balikwisha would not just add competition, but give Rodgers more tactical freedom. If he wants to go direct, switch wings mid-game, or compensate for player absences, having an attacker who isn’t limited to one role is a real bonus.
There’s also a bigger picture at play. After wrapping up the Scottish Premiership title last season, Celtic have European ambitions once again. Players familiar with Champions League intensity are hard to come by without spending big, so Balikwisha, who’s already faced the likes of Barcelona and Porto, carries valuable experience that could lift the whole squad when the pressure mounts on those midweek nights.
Fans always want signings who’ll hit the ground running, but the coaching staff know it’s about building a squad deeper than just the starting XI. Balikwisha’s ability to rotate with key players like Daizen Maeda or rise to the occasion during injury spells could make the difference between domestic dominance and a real crack at Europe.
With the paperwork nearly done and both sides motivated to get the deal over the line, the green light looks close. For Celtic supporters, hopes are high that Balikwisha’s arrival means more attacking flair and fewer nervy moments about squad depth as Rodgers aims for another memorable season.