Haissem Hassan to Celtic: Celtic have taken a significant step in their pursuit of Haissem Hassan after making fresh progress in negotiations with Real Oviedo. Record Sport reports that discussions have reached an advanced stage, with the Scottish champions pushing to complete a deal worth an initial £6 million. Performance-related add-ons could lift the overall package to around £9 million, while Transfer Feed has relayed the latest update.
Oviedo inserted a £10 million release clause into Hassan’s contract, yet Celtic believe they can strike an agreement below that figure. Timing has helped their position. The Egypt international has only 12 months remaining on his current deal and has made it clear that he wants the switch to Parkhead.
Confidence has grown inside Celtic over recent days as talks continue. Rather than triggering the clause outright, the club want a structured payment that rewards Oviedo if certain targets are achieved. That approach appears to have narrowed the gap between the two sides.
During the 2025/26 La Liga season, Hassan featured in 37 league matches and played 1,965 minutes. He failed to score and registered three assists as Oviedo suffered relegation, although his underlying numbers painted a very different picture from his headline statistics.
Why Haissem Hassan to Celtic suits Martin O’Neill
Those figures deserve context. Hassan ranked among La Liga’s best wingers for progressive carries, averaging 4.35 per 90 minutes, while his dribbling consistently pushed defenders backwards. That’s exactly the profile Martin O’Neill needs after Daizen Maeda’s departure.
Expect O’Neill to station Hassan on the right flank before encouraging him to attack isolated full-backs. His preferred left foot makes cutting inside a natural movement, opening crossing angles and creating cut-back opportunities for Kasper Høgh and late-arriving midfielders. Celtic don’t need him to become a prolific scorer. They need someone who unsettles defensive shapes every few minutes.
What Haissem Hassan could bring to Celtic in Europe
Hassan’s recent international display offered another reminder of his qualities. The 24-year-old supplied an assist during Egypt’s thrilling 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, producing one of his most impressive performances on the biggest stage.
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Champions League qualifiers often become stretched, physical contests where quick transitions decide matches. Hassan’s acceleration and willingness to carry the ball through pressure suit that environment. His league numbers, his World Cup display and Celtic’s willingness to commit as much as £9 million all point to a winger valued far more for what he creates than for what he finishes.
