The Notable Absentee From Celtic’s Champions League Squad

Celtic’s squad for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League was officially confirmed yesterday as the Hoops gear up for their third season in a row playing in Europe’s premier club comPetition.

The past two years have seen the Bhoys consecutively finish bottom of their groups, but they will hope that changes this time around as the new league phase comes into play.

Indeed, the Celts will face eight different teams, four at home and four away, as they aim to finish in the top 24 of a 36-team league table.

For the Hoos’ matches, manager Brendan Rodgers has a relatively strong squad to pick from.

The likes of Arne Engels, Callum McGregor, Luke McCowan, Reo Hatate, and Paulo Bernardo are all available for the boss to pick from in the middle of the park.

One first-team midfielder who didn’t make the Champions League squad, though, is Odin Thiago Holm.

The Norwegian was the first signing of Rodgers’ second Celtic spell but wasn’t much of a key player last term.

That trend has carried on into the new season, with Holm playing just 24 minutes across all comPetitions so far in 2024/25.

The 21-year-old came in from Norway with a high reputation and has shown signs of promise, but not enough to impress Rodgers.

Indeed, the manager criticised his and Bosun Lawal’s work rate during pre-season, and perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by his absence from the European squad.

Contracted at Celtic until 2028, a loan might be best for Holm to aid his development.