Sold for £10m: Celtic struck gold with star who’s now worth millions less
As the transfer window neared its end, the Hoops became even more active, securing a loan deal for Alex Valle from Barcelona and completing deadline-day signings of Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, and Auston Trusty.
Danish midfielder Matt O’Riley made a high-profile move to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League for a reported fee exceeding £25 million, setting a new transfer record for both Celtic and Scottish football. Time will tell if O’Riley will thrive in England, like Virgil van Dijk, or see his value decline, as Gary Hooper did.
Celtic’s decision to sell versatile defender Josip Juranovic was seen as a well-timed move. The Croatian international impressed during his spell in Scotland, having joined the club in 2021 for a reported £2.5 million from Legia Warsaw on a five-year contract. Juranovic quickly adapted, making a strong impact in his debut season, playing both left-back and right-back positions.
In the 2021/22 Scottish Premiership campaign under Ange Postecoglou, Juranovic played 26 matches, helping Celtic keep 11 clean sheets and winning 56% of his duels, showcasing his defensive reliability.
In the second half of the 2022/23 Premiership season under Ange Postecoglou, Juranovic added one goal and one assist in ten appearances.
During the January 2023 transfer window, Bundesliga side Union Berlin capitalized on Juranovic’s impressive form, signing him for a reported fee of up to £10 million after a standout 18 months in Glasgow.
The Hoops’ decision to sell Juranovic was especially astute, as his value has since declined after moving to Union Berlin. Rather than going from strength to strength in Germany, his market value has dropped significantly.
As of September 23, 2024, Transfermarkt values the 29-year-old defender at €7.5 million (£6.3 million), showing a sharp decrease from the reported fee of up to £10 million that Celtic received when they sold him in January 2023.
This highlights Celtic’s smart timing in cashing in on Juranovic at his peak, avoiding the risk of his value dropping had they held on to him longer. The club made a sizable profit and strategically moved on before his market value took a downturn.
Since moving to Union Berlin, Josip Juranovic has contributed two goals and four assists in the Bundesliga but has struggled with the physical demands of German football. His aerial duels, in particular, have been a weak point. During the 2022/23 season, he lost 70% of his aerial contests, winning only 0.3 per game, and this trend continued into the 2023/24 season, where he won just 0.1 aerial duels per match, losing 57%. These stats highlight how easily opposition players have been able to outmaneuver him in the air.
Before Juranovic’s departure in January, Celtic acted swiftly by signing Alistair Johnston from CF Montreal for a reported £3.5 million, anticipating the Croatian’s exit. This move has proven to be a masterstroke for the Hoops.
As of September 23, 2024, Johnston is valued at €8.5 million (£7.1 million) by Transfermarkt, making him worth more than Juranovic. This represents a significant increase from his original signing fee, showcasing the club’s ability to identify valuable talent.
Johnston’s on-pitch performances have been outstanding, outperforming Juranovic’s first full Premiership season. His rise in value since joining Celtic proves that the club struck gold when they brought him to Parkhead, positioning him as an essential asset for the team.
| Premiership | Juranovic – 21/22 | Johnston – 23/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 26 | 32 |
| Big chances created | 4 | 11 |
| Assists | 1 | 5 |
| Tackles + interceptions per game | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| Duel success rate | 56% | 58% |
| Stats via Sofascore | ||
As you can see in the table above, they offered a similar level of quality defensively but Johnston was significantly more creative from his right-back berth, with over twice as many ‘big chances’ created and five times as many assists, in six more appearances.
The Canadian whiz has also enjoyed a terrific start to the current campaign, with one goal and four ‘big chances’ created in five Premiership appearances, and could see his value continue to soar if his current level of form continues throughout the rest of the season.
Therefore, Celtic should be delighted with their business in selling Juranovic for a significant fee and investing in Johnston for £3.5m, as it has turned out brilliantly for them on all fronts as it stands.
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