Transfer Centre

Celtic 'agree £3.5m sale of Giorgos Giakoumakis to Urawa Red Diamonds'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 16 January 2023

Celtic 'agree £3.5m sale of Giakoumakis to Urawa Red Diamonds'

Celtic reportedly reach an agreement with Japanese outfit Urawa Red Diamonds to sell striker Giorgos Giakoumakis for €4m (£3.55m) this month.

Celtic have reportedly reached an agreement with Japanese outfit Urawa Red Diamonds to sell striker Giorgos Giakoumakis this month.

The 28-year-old arrived at Parkhead from Dutch club VVV-Venlo for around £2.5m in the summer of 2021 after claiming the Eredivisie Golden Boot, netting 26 goals in 30 matches.

Giakoumakis found the net 17 times in 29 appearances in his first season with Celtic, including nine goals in their Scottish Premiership title-winning campaign.

The Greece international has since scored nine goals in all competitions this term, but has struggled for regular first-team football, starting only seven of his 28 appearances.

Giakoumakis has lost his place as Celtic's central striker to this season's top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi, who has contributed with 15 goals in 17 starts under Ange Postecoglou.

Celtic's Georgios Giakoumakis celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 20, 2022 © Reuters

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Celtic have now agreed to sell Giakoumakis to J. League side Uwara Red Diamonds and will receive a transfer package totalling €4m (£3.55m).

Romano adds that Giakoumakis is currently discussing personal terms with the Japanese side, while MLS outfit Atlanta United are still in the race for his signature.

Urawa Red Diamonds are five-time Japanese top-flight champions, with their last success in 2006, and they ended the 2022 season in ninth place, 23 points behind winners Yokahama F Marinos – Postecoglou's former club.

Giakoumakis posted a cryptic message on Instagram last weekend after scoring in Celtic's 2-0 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals amid speculation surrounding his future.

After the match at Hampden Park on Saturday, the striker posted an image of himself celebrating his goal along with the message: "Enjoy every moment like it's your last! On to the final! Thank you for the immense support".

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates after the match on January 14, 2023 © Reuters

Speaking about potential outgoings in the January market after Celtic's win over Kilmarnock, Postecoglou said: "It's not about us or me pushing anybody out of the door. Every footballer has got decisions to make about their career and you respect that.

"I have good and honest conversations with the boys and if something comes to the table that one of the lads feels strongly about then we will discuss it. Right now I am more about bringing ones in than letting them go."

Giakoumakis is not the only Celtic player who has been linked with a move away from Parkhead this month, as the future of right-back Josip Juranovic is also believed to be uncertain.

A possible switch to Serie A side Monza has been mooted for the Croatia international, while Chelsea and Barcelona have also been credited with an interest.

Meanwhile, Southampton are reportedly keeping tabs on forward Daizen Maeda, who scored along with Giakoumakis in Celtic's most recent win over Kilmarnock.