Looks like end of road at Celtic for Gustaf Lagerbielke | OneFootball

It looks like the end of the road at Celtic Park for Gustaf Lagerbielke, with a new report, coming from Sweden’s leading sports outlet Sportbladet, claiming the out-of-favour Swede is set to join Portuguese side Braga. A deal is said to be close, with a medical expected to take place this week.

ENSCHEDE, Stadium Grolsch Veste, 16-02-2025 , season 2024 / 2025 , Dutch Eredivisie Football during the match Twente – RKC FC Twente player Gustaf Lagerbielke Twente – RKC (IMAGO)

‘Gustaf Lagerbielke looks set to be sold to Braga in Portugal.

According to Sportbladet’s information, Celtic and Braga are close to agreeing on the price tag – and the player is expected to undergo a medical at the Portuguese club this week. It was at the end of last summer that Celtic loaned Swedish center back Gustaf Lagerbielke to Twente in the Netherlands.

This after the Scottish club bought the player from Elfsborg for around 40 million kronor earlier.Now he has been linked with a move to Braga in Portugal and according to Sportbladet’s information, the parties have now in principle agreed on a deal where the Swede will be bought out.

Lagerbielke is also expected to undergo a medical this week if everything goes as planned and thus sign for his new club if everything goes as planned.’

FC Twente defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, during the match Twente – Bodo Glimt at the Grolsch Veste, FC Twente Stadion for the UEFA Europa League – Knockout phase play-offs – 1st leg season 2024-2025 in ENSCHEDE, Netherlands on 13 februari 2025, (photo by Stefan Koops EYE4images DeFodi Images

The 24-year-old central defender arrived at Celtic in the infamous summer transfer window of 2023, from IF Elfsborg for a fee in the region of £3.5m. Signed in the wake of Carl Starfelt’s departure, and via a recommendation from Starfelt’s agent, Lagerbielke was seen as a promising replacement with decent pedigree from the Allsvenskan and the Swedish national setup.

However, what looked like a calculated piece of business quickly unravelled. Lagerbielke never settled in Brendan Rodgers’ side, appearing sluggish in possession and often caught flat-footed in the high defensive line Celtic aim to maintain. His passing range was limited, and his lack of recovery pace evident from the start, making only a handful of appearances before being completely frozen out of the first-team picture.

While injuries to other defenders offered occasional lifelines, the Swede rarely impressed when called upon. The turning point, perhaps, was his red card against Feyenoord in the Champions League group stages—a moment that summed up a nervous and hesitant spell at the club.

Liam Scales and Gustaf Lagerbielke of Celtic celebrate following the team’s victory during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and Feyenoord at Celtic Park on December 13, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

In January this season, he was shipped out on loan to FC Twente in the Eredivisie, a move meant to reignite his form and attracted interest elsewhere. Lagerbielke made 32 appearances for the Dutch side, showing more confidence than he did in Glasgow, but it was never likely he’d be reintegrated into Rodgers’ plans upon return. That loan move seems to have served its purpose – put him in the shop window.

Braga, perennial contenders, if rarely outright challengers, in Portugal and regulars in Europe, are reportedly ready to take the plunge with a permanent deal. Sportbladet reports that terms are “in principle agreed,” with only the medical pending.

If completed, this transfer will quietly draw a line under one of Celtic’s more forgettable recruitment misfires in recent years. Lagerbielke, for all his potential, was never the right fit for the pace and pressure of Celtic’s style of play. He lacked the aggression and mobility demanded of Rodgers’ defenders and struggled to command his area in high-stakes games.

IMAGO Photo by Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock Gustaf Lagerbielke and Anthony Ralston of Celtic celebrate as the final whistle sounds. Final score Rangers 0 Celtic 1. Rangers v Celtic, Cinch Scottish Premiership, Ibrox , – 03 September 2023

There’s a lesson here. Celtic’s recruitment team took a gamble on a player they hoped could grow into the role, but the risk never paid off. Thankfully, the club appears ready to accept that and move on. With the wage bill to consider and new signings on the horizon, shedding a peripheral figure like Lagerbielke makes sense both financially and tactically.

For the player, a fresh start in a competitive league like Portugal might be exactly what he needs to rebuild his career. For Celtic, this looks like a case of cutting their losses—and learning from them.

Celtic v St. Johnstone – Gustaf Lagerbielke during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, August 26, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

If the deal goes through, Lagerbielke’s time in Glasgow will be remembered as brief, underwhelming, and ultimately, a reminder that not every signing works out—even if the agent recommending him says it should.

Niall J

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