Balikwisha poised for Celtic exit despite Champions League squad inclusion
The 25-year-old Congolese international has made only 14 appearances since his £5 million move from Royal Antwerp, with AC Monza, FC Basel, and SV Elversberg identified as potential destinations.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha is set to depart Celtic FC, a development that arrives despite his inclusion in the 25-man squad for the upcoming Champions League playoff against LASK. According to transfer analyst Sacha Tavolieri, the 25-year-old’s time at the club is effectively over, with an exit expected to be finalised before the close of the transfer window.
The midfielder’s tenure at Celtic has been marked by limited engagement. Since completing a £5 million transfer from Royal Antwerp approximately a year ago, Balikwisha has made just 14 appearances, the majority of which have come from the bench. He was notably omitted from the matchday squads for the first two fixtures of the current campaign, despite participating in pre-season training.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is understood to regard Balikwisha as a casualty of his tactical setup. The player’s lack of impact was evident even when handed a starting role in the Scottish Cup tie against Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park on 18 January 2026, where he failed to influence the contest.
Interest in the Congolese international, who is also a former Belgian under-21 international, has been identified by Tavolieri. Three clubs are reportedly keen on securing his services: newly promoted Serie A side AC Monza, Swiss outfit FC Basel, and Bundesliga newcomers SV Elversberg.
The announcement of his impending departure coincides with the publication of the squad for the European playoff. While his inclusion in the 25-man list presents a contradiction to reports of his imminent exit, the consensus suggests that his future lies elsewhere as Celtic look to consolidate their European campaign.
