Oh Hyeon-Gyu Opens Up on Celtic Exit; Idah Arrival Forced His Hand

Former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-Gyu has shed light on his decision to leave the club this summer, citing the arrival of Adam Idah as a pivotal factor in his move to Belgian side Genk.

Oh, who joined Celtic in January 2023, found his playing time increasingly limited following the arrival of the Irish striker and ultimately decided a transfer was necessary to revitalise his career.

Oh expressed a mix of gratitude and frustration when reflecting on his time at Celtic, where he netted 12 goals but saw his opportunities dwindle in the latter half of his spell at Parkhead. He revealed that a lack of minutes cost him his place in the South Korea national team, a significant blow that spurred his desire to seek regular Football elsewhere.

While he expressed disappointment at losing his spot at Celtic, Oh was quick to acknowledge his fondness for the club, while he also revealed that he had some options in the English Championship.

He said: [Glasgow Times] “I had lost my place in my national team because I was no longer playing for Celtic.

“It was then I knew I had to get a transfer.

“Now I am in a good place here.

“I scored 12 goals in total for Celtic, but I hardly played in the last six months.

“They had brought in a new striker, someone with a different profile – a big, strong boy – and they had to find a solution for me.

“I thought that was a shame at first because I really loved Celtic. It’s a great club. ”

But when Genk came calling, I didn’t hesitate.

“I had a few options in the English Championship, but I just wanted to come here.

“When you see all the players who came through here – Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Leandro Trossard and more. That’s impressive, isn’t it?”

Now enjoying life in Belgium, Oh is focused on making the most of his new opportunity and reigniting his international career with South Korea.

It just didn’t work out for him at Celtic, but it’s good to see his career is back on track elsewhere.