Liel Abada faces uncertainty at MLS club after Toulouse move collapses

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The Celtic Star

·26 November 2025

Liel Abada faces uncertainty at MLS club after Toulouse move collapses

Former Celtic winger Liel Abada could be on his way out of MLS side Charlotte FC after his £10m transfer for the Hoops has failed to take off. And after a difficult season and a failed move to French football due to Police concerns for his safety Abada’s footballing future is uncertain.

Celtic v Buckie Thistle – Liel Abada in action during the Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on Sunday January 21, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

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Abada left Celtic in January 2024 as tensions rose due to the conflict in Palestine and amid mounting pressure on the player from Israel to leave Celtic due to the Celtic’s support for the Palestinian people. Liel was not subjected to any hostile treatment in Glasgow, quite the opposite in fact but it clearly was a difficult situation he was in through no fault of his own and everyone at Celtic wished him well.

And it looked like Abada was about to head back to Europe to play in French football with Toulouse, who had been tracking him during his time at Celtic, keen to bring him in during the January window. However that deal collapsed due to French Police apparently telling Toulouse that they could not guarantee Abada’s safety.

3rd February 2024 Pittodrie, Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen versus Celtic Liel Abada of Celtic on the ball. Photo ActionPlus Vagelis Georgariou

So for the moment he remains a Charlotte FC but manager Dean Smith, a former boss at Aston Villa, is unsure if there’s going to be a place in his plans for next season for the former Celtic favourite who scored seven goals across 36 games in the recently completed campaign.

Smith has revealed, as reported by Daily Record, that he has spoke to Liel Abada at the improvements that are necessary in his game if he is going to remain at the club. “That will be a conversation the front office will have (Abada’s future) with his representatives.

“My football conversations with Liel, where he can improve, what he needs to improve on, how he earns the trust, not just from the staff but his team-mates as well. The kid tries, he’s a good kid as well, it just didn’t happen for him, at times, last season.”

Liel Abada of Celtic scores to give Celtic a 0-1 lead. The goal was disallowed for offside but awarded by referee Kevin Clancy after a VAR check. Aberdeen v Celtic, Cinch Scottish Premiership – 13 Aug 2023 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

On the collapse of the proposed move to France, the Charlotte FC boss added: “Liel Abada’s move to Toulouse fell through due to security concerns. The team really wanted him, but the local police refused to take responsibility for his safety. I know Toulouse really wanted to sign him when he was at Celtic before the war started.

“I know the team’s manager, and he told me the police informed the club they couldn’t prevent them from signing him, but they wouldn’t be held responsible for his safety. They really wanted him, but they didn’t want to be held responsible for his life.”

Celtic v St. Johnstone – cinch Premiership – Celtic Park St Johnstone s Graham Carey and Celtics Liel Abada left battle for the ball during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday August 26, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

Hopefully Liel can either force his way back into Dean Smith’s plans for next season or can get a decent move. Top player he was for us and as Brendan Rodgers said at the time, he absolutely loved playing for Celtic.

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