South Korean midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu is on the verge of ending his time at Celtic, with a permanent move to Ligue 1 side FC Nantes reportedly close to completion. according to French publication.
‘Mercato FC Nantes. A South Korean midfielder arrives, a second soon on loan.
According to our information, Kwon Hyeok-kyu (24 years old), playing for Celtic FC, is very close to signing with FC Nantes. The South Korean defensive midfielder will strengthen a sector that has been weakened since the successive departures of Douglas Augusto and Pedro Chirivella. At the same time, his compatriot Hyun-seok Hong (Mainz), who has been in talks for several weeks, is expected to arrive on loan.
A fourth recruit will arrive at FC Nantes. While Youssef El-Arabi and Chidozie Awaziem will be presented to the press this Wednesday, July 23 at La Jonelière, Kwon Hyeok-kyu would be very close to imitating them in the coming hours. The South Korean defensive midfielder arrives from Celtic FC. This player will commit himself for three years permanently as part of a transfer. He is due to undergo his medical in the coming hours. ‘
Signed by Celtic in that infamous summer transfer window of 2023, Kwon, we were told was a promising midfield option with strong physical attributes and defensive discipline. However, he failed to break into the first team and spent last season on loan at Hibs.
While he showed flashes of ability in the early stages of his time at Easter Road, he faded from view during the second half of the campaign, struggling to find consistent minutes under Hibs boss David Gray as the Edinburgh side improved markedly after a poor start to last season’s Premiership campaign.
Despite his lack of impact in Scotland, a move to Nantes — a club with an impressive history in French football and a reputation for developing talent — represents quite the opportunity for Kwon.
The report claims the departure of midfielders Douglas Augusto and Pedro Chirivella has left Nantes short in the centre of the park, and Kwon’s arrival is intended to help stabilise that area.
For Celtic, the move makes sense. Kwon was unlikely to feature under Brendan Rodgers, and a permanent transfer clears space and resources in the squad.
From the player’s perspective, the switch offers a vital reset and a chance to prove himself in one of Europe’s top five leagues. If the deal goes through as expected following his medical, Kwon will become the fourth summer signing for Nantes.
While his time at Celtic may be remembered as a missed opportunity, this next chapter could well be the making of him. Kwon would leave Celtic with no hard feelings and everyone’s best wishes for what is a fantastic opportunity to continue his career in Europe.
Niall J
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