Celtic Close In on Second January Signing as Target Clears Medical

WHISPERS FROM GLASGOW: CELTIC MOVE IN SILENCE AS ANOTHER STORY BEGINS

There are clubs that exist to win matches, and there are clubs that exist to mean something. Celtic have always belonged to the latter. Long before contracts are signed or shirts are pulled on, the club trades in belief, in patience, in the quiet understanding that the future must be shaped with as much care as the present. Every decision carries echoes of Lisbon, of nights under floodlights, of generations raised on faith as much as silverware.

That is why moments like these are never merely transactional. They arrive softly, almost unnoticed, wrapped in discretion and intent. Somewhere between tradition and renewal, Celtic continue to look outward, searching not just for ability, but for hunger — players who can grow into the weight of the shirt rather than be crushed by it. It is in that space, between promise and possibility, that this latest move has begun to take shape.

Celtic are edging closer to completing what could be their second signing of the January transfer window, with highly rated Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi understood to have completed a medical ahead of a proposed move to Glasgow. The 19-year-old is now expected to finalise personal terms after a previous suitor moved on, opening the door for the Scottish champions to act with purpose.

Currently on loan at Hapoel Petah Tikva from Maccabi Netanya, Ta Bi has been steadily building a reputation as one of the Israeli league’s most exciting young attackers. His pace is sharp, his intent direct, and his confidence in one-on-one situations has marked him out as something more than a traditional winger.

Those close to the process suggest Celtic moved quickly once the opportunity emerged, accelerating talks and positioning themselves decisively. The winger is viewed as raw but fearless, a player whose explosive acceleration and willingness to take responsibility in the final third hint at a high ceiling.

“Celtic have always been a place where potential is trusted, not rushed,” one source noted. “They don’t just sign players — they shape them.”

Born in Attécoubé, Côte d’Ivoire, Ta Bi began his professional journey with Maccabi Netanya before a loan spell offered him the platform to mature. That decision has paid dividends, with scouts impressed by his growth, discipline and understanding of space.

From Celtic’s perspective, the logic is clear. The club’s recent history is built on identifying emerging talent early, providing the right environment, and allowing time to do its work.

“There’s a belief inside the club that the next chapter should be written before the last one ends,” another insider said.

Supporters may not yet know the name, but they know the pattern. Patience. Development. Reward. If the deal is completed, Ta Bi will arrive not as a finished star, but as a quiet promise — one that Celtic hope will, in time, speak loudly under the lights of Paradise.