Celtic Sold Better Striker Than Junior Adamu for Just £3m — And He’s Thriving

Former Hoops forward Oh Hyeon-gyu is outperforming Celtic’s current options after his move to Genk and subsequent transfer to Besiktas.

Junior Adamu announced himself to the Celtic faithful with a dramatic late equaliser against Dundee in the Scottish Cup, sparking hope that the Austrian striker can revive the club’s misfiring attack.

The 24-year-old, on loan from Freiburg, offers the mobility and pressing intensity that have traditionally defined Celtic’s most successful centre-forwards. His profile has already led to comparisons with Kyogo Furuhashi, particularly in terms of movement and link-up play.

However, while Adamu and fellow loanee Tomas Cvancara compete for the starting role, Celtic may already have let go of a more productive striker at a bargain price.

Celtic sold Oh Hyeon-gyu for just £3m

Oh Hyeon-gyu left Celtic for Genk in the summer of 2024 for a reported fee of around £3m after struggling for consistent minutes under Brendan Rodgers.

During his time at Parkhead, the South Korean forward scored 12 goals in 47 appearances, but his opportunities diminished following the arrival of Adam Idah and the continued dominance of Kyogo in the pecking order.

Since leaving Glasgow, Oh has revitalised his career.

Oh Hyeon-gyu thriving after leaving Celtic

In Belgium, Oh scored 22 goals in 73 appearances for Genk, earning a high-profile move to Besiktas in the latest transfer window for a reported £10m.

He has already made an immediate impact in Turkey, scoring on his debut and providing an assist in a draw with Antalyaspor. Across all competitions this season, he has recorded 11 goals and four assists in 33 appearances a stronger return than any of Celtic’s current centre-forward options.

Did Celtic sell too soon?

With Adamu still adapting to Scottish football and Cvancara yet to fully establish himself, there is growing frustration among supporters that Celtic moved on from Oh too quickly — and for a relatively modest fee.

Early signs suggest the 24-year-old could outscore both Adamu and Cvancara over the remainder of the campaign, raising uncomfortable questions about Celtic’s recent recruitment strategy.