Celtic transfer news: 'Best striker since Henrik Larsson' leaves club as Jota secures emotional return

The Portuguese winger arrives from France having signed a five-and-a-half-year deal at Celtic Park, subject to international clearance, keeping him in Scotland until June 2030.

Jota first joined the Bhoys on loan from Benfica in August 2021 and made the deal permanent the following summer, before eventually departing the club for a reported £25m just 18 months ago.

The forward will be eager to rediscover the form that saw him light up the Scottish Premiership, scoring 28 goals and providing 26 assists in his 83 appearances during his first spell with the Hoops.

Jota admits last 18 months felt like a decade

Speaking at a media conference following his return, Jota told reporters: "The last year-and-a-half felt like 10 years, so coming back here, it's just a great feeling of joy and happiness."

Just two months after swapping Celtic for his big-money move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad in 2023, Jota was surprisingly left out of the club's Pro League squad to make way for new signing Luiz Felipe.

The 25-year-old went on to make just 19 appearances for the Saudi outfit before joining Rennes in the summer, where he subsequently struggled to make an impact, featuring only 10 times across all competitions.

However, the winger insisted he always felt he would rejoin Celtic, saying: "There was always this feeling that there's a very good place over there, somewhere that I felt really good, so why not come back one day?

"I didn't know that it was going to be so fast. It's just a great feeling of joy and happiness; it feels like home for me."

Fan favourite moves the other way

While it is certainly an emotional reunion for Celtic supporters, reuniting with the man behind the viral 'Jota on the wing' song, the Hoops will be saddened to say goodbye to fan-favourite striker Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Japanese forward has essentially moved in the opposite direction to Jota, with Kyogo leaving Scotland for a reported £10m move to Rennes in a separate deal.

In his heartfelt final message to Celtic fans, Kyogo said: "I have been truly grateful for your wonderful support and cheering. From the moment I joined until my final day, I've been happy every step of the way.

"I move forward but I will keep all of you in my heart and continue on my journey."

Kyogo, who arrived as something of an unknown quantity in July 2021 from Vissel Kobe, lifted eight trophies in Scotland, scoring 85 goals in 165 appearances, with many fans hailing him as their best striker since Henrik Larsson.

Written by

Ellis Stevens