Celtic make transfer breakthrough as debutant pencilled in for Hearts title clash

Czech internationalist Cvancara has joined Celtic until the end of 2025/26 campaign, with the Premiership champions holding an option to make the deal permanent. He could make his debut in Sunday’s league match against Hearts.

Celtic have been in the market for a new No 9 since the January transfer window opened at the start of the month and Cvancara, 25, will compete with Johnny Kenny and Kelechi Iheanacho for a regular start in the Celtic first team.

“It’s a massive honour to sign for this club,” Cvancara told the Celtic website. “I am so excited to get started and make my own contribution to the team.

"We have lots of challenges ahead of us and I am ready to get going and do everything I can to meet these and bring success to our brilliant supporters. Celtic is one of the great names in world football and I am delighted to be here to play my part.”

Cvancara is a Czech Republic internationalist who has scored once for his national team in eight appearances. He started his career at Jablonec in his homeland before moving to Sparta Prague following loan spells at Empoli, Vyšehrad and SFC Opava.

Cvancara’s form at Sparta earned him a move to the German Bundesliga in 2023, with Moenchengladbach playing just under £4 million for his services. However, he was loaned to Turkish side Antalyaspor last summer, where he scored once in 11 Super Lig appearances before moving to Celtic.

The striker becomes Celtic’s second January signing following the arrival of right-back Julian Araujo, also on loan from Bournemouth.