Big Names Who Couldn't Shine in the Green & White of Celtic

Despite their celebrated reputations and substantial transfer fees, these high-profile players arrived at Celtic Park with immense fanfare only to spectacularly fall flat on their face.

Celtic Park has witnessed countless moments of footballing brilliance, Celtic fans have been spoiled with glorious victories and iconic heroes. Yet, for every Henrik Larsson or Kenny Dalglish, there's another, less celebrated chapter in Celtic's rich history: the tale of the big-name signings who arrived with a fanfare, a hefty price tag, and the weight of immense expectation, only to stumble and ultimately fall short.

Football is a game of fine margins, and even the most decorated players can find themselves struggling in new surroundings. For some, the fast-paced, physical nature of Scottish football proves too challenging; for others, it's a clash of personalities, an inability to adapt to a new system, or simply a player past their prime attempting one last swan song. Whatever the reason, these are the stories of highly anticipated arrivals who, instead of igniting Parkhead, found themselves lost in its unforgiving glare. Despite their glittering resumes, big names have ultimately became costly casualties in the pursuit of Celtic glory, leaving behind a legacy not of triumph, but of failure.

Here are five big-name Celtic signings whose time at the club was nothing short of a failure:

Juninho Paulista

Signed: August 2004
Left: April 2005

Brazilian international Juninho joined Celtic on a free transfer from Middlesbrough on August 26, 2004, and made an immediate impact. The 2002 World Cup winner, adored by Middlesbrough fans for his two spells on Teesside, was thrown straight into a Glasgow derby against Rangers.

The 32-year-old playmaker delivered a superb performance in Celtic's 1-0 victory. His direct running and sublime touches consistently troubled the Rangers defence, earning him a man-of-the-match award and a standing ovation from the home crowd when he was substituted. His debut fuelled hopes that Juninho would be the catalyst for a dominant season, both in the Champions League and domestically.

However, things quickly went downhill. Juninho struggled to adapt to Celtic's style of play and was soon relegated to the bench by manager Martin O'Neill. While he scored his first goal in a 3-0 home win against Hearts in October, his lack of regular playing time led many fans to question the signing.

Despite showing glimpses of his skill, Juninho was never given the sustained run in the side that he needed to find form. By January, it was clear he wouldn't settle for a bench role. After just seven months and 14 starts, his contract was mutually terminated in April, bringing an end to his short and bittersweet time at Parkhead.

Rafael Scheidt

Signed: July 1999
Left: July 2003

Rafael Scheidt's transfer to Celtic in 1999 stands as perhaps the most infamous "flop" in Celtic's history. Signed from Grêmio for a staggering £5 million under Kenny Dalglish, the Brazilian defender arrived with the remarkable - and, it turned out, misleading - distinction of three caps for Brazil. This was at a time when the Brazilian national team was controversially accused of inflating transfer fees for their players by handing out caps in friendly matches.

That strategy certainly worked on Celtic, as Scheidt's tenure would ultimately cost the club a cool £1 million per game before they finally paid him off, following a loan spell. His time at Parkhead was largely a mystery, with minimal game time and even less impact.

Freddie Ljungberg

Signed: December 2010
Left: May 2011

Freddie Ljungberg, was a superb winger best known for his time with Arsenal, joined Celtic on a six-month contract in December 2010. By then, at 33 years old, he was past his peak, having had stints in MLS with Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire after leaving West Ham. Despite the initial fanfare surrounding the arrival of a player with such a decorated past, Ljungberg's time in Glasgow was largely forgettable. He made just eight appearances for Neil Lennon's side across all competitions and failed to score any goals. His brief spell ended in May 2011, and he subsequently moved to Japan.

Thomas Gravesen

Signed: August 2006
Left: August 2008

Thomas Gravesen's arrival at Celtic Park in 2006 was undeniably one of the most high-profile transfers in the club's history, bringing a Real Madrid midfielder to Glasgow. Despite initial uncertainty surrounding his medical, the Denmark international eventually signed for £2 million. Gravesen's time in green and white wasn't entirely without its moments of brilliance, including two memorable goals against Rangers and a hat-trick against St Mirren.

However, his tenure was ultimately marred by his reputation as a hot-headed, tactically undisciplined midfielder. He often played like a headless chicken, scurrying into tackles rather than holding a cohesive shape. The relationship with manager Gordon Strachan eventually soured, culminating in Strachan publicly accusing Gravesen of not working hard enough to regain a starting spot. This breakdown led to Celtic reportedly paying an additional £1 million to terminate his contract, making his high-profile signing a costly failure.

Vasilis Barkas

Signed: July 2020
Left: July 2023

Following Fraser Forster's decision not to return to the club after his loan deal ended, Celtic sought a new number one, ultimately identifying Greek international Vasilis Barkas. Despite having faced Celtic previously in Champions League qualifiers with decent performances, the £5 million fee for the Greek international seemed steep.

Barkas was always going to be compared to the commanding Forster, and his initial presence between the posts did little to help, as he lacked the Englishman's authority and confidence to marshal the defence. While it's true he played behind a struggling backline, a pivotal moment of no return came when he meekly allowed a Conor Goldson header to bounce past him into the corner in a crucial Old Firm derby. By then, many Celtic fans had already decided Barkas simply wasn't up to the task.

He was sent out on loan to FC Utrecht in 2022 before making the move permanent in July 2023.

Shane Duffy

Signed: September 2020 - loan from Brighton & Hove Albion
Left: June 2021

Shane Duffy, a lifelong Celtic supporter and defender for Brighton, arrived at Parkhead in the summer of 2020 with immense expectations. Heralded as the no-nonsense answer to bolster Celtic's defense in their historic 10-in-a-row pursuit, his high-profile loan move was costly, with Celtic reportedly covering his full £40,000-a-week wages.

However, what transpired was an unmitigated disaster. Duffy's performances were not just underwhelming; they were horrifically bad, riddled with costly mistakes that severely impacted the team's season. The once-dominant Irishman appeared to lose all confidence, with nearly every action on the pitch leading to a calamitous outcome. He seemed to forget the fundamentals of defending, consistently rushing out of position, misjudging the offside trap, and allowing opponents to bypass him with ease.

Adding to the pressure of his move, Duffy's personal life had been hit by tragedy just months before his arrival, with the passing of his father in May 2020. He later spoke openly about the profound difficulty of coping with this devastating loss while simultaneously struggling on the pitch and being isolated from his family due to the stringent COVID-19 restrictions then in place. This combination of professional woes and personal grief undoubtedly cast a long shadow over his ill-fated spell in Glasgow.

These five are just a number of high profile names who flopped during their time at Celtic. Can you name any others that you think deserve to be on this list?