Celtic’s pre-season continues to gather pace this weekend as they welcome EFL Championship outfit Middlesbrough to Parkhead for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.
Martin O’Neill’s side have yet to taste victory in their first two warm-up games, drawing 1-1 with Shelbourne before losing 4-1 to Sporting CP in Portugal on Tuesday night, and will be looking to ramp up their preparations with a victory on home soil against Kim Hellberg’s visiting Teessiders.
Believe it or not, Celtic and Middlesbrough have not seen a senior player transfer between the clubs since 2010, although Hoops academy product Josh Dede did move to the Riverside Stadium in January of 2025, but has yet to feature in the first team.
In truth, the success rate of players transferred between the club ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous, with club legends, major flops and forgotten talents all included.
But can you remember these 11 players who have played for both clubs?
5. Jeremie Aliadiere
Remember him? Perhaps a photo of him in a tree will help? Okay...maybe not. The striker joined Celtic on loan after emerging as one of Arsenal's top talents during their invincible season, but barely featured at Parkhead, making just substitute two appearances. He fared better at the Riverside Stadium, where he was a regular for three seasons before returning to France with Lorient. Now 43, he is a respected matchday presenter and media pundit, frequently co-commentating on Arsenal's live digital shows while taking his coaching badges. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 Photo: SNS Group
6. Ben Hutchinson
A top talent in the Middlesbrough academy, the striker opted to sign a pre-contract agreement with Celtic to join them at the beginning of the 2008/09 season. However, the young forward failed to live up to his potential, and spent much of his time at Parkhead out on loan before departing permanently to sign for Kilmarnock. Short stints at Mansfield Town and Nuneaton Town would follow, before ended his career with semi-professional outfit Carlton Town in 2020. Perhaps best remembered for a surprise cameo appearance as an 82nd-minute substitute against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw during the Champions League group stage. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 Photo: SNS Group 0141 221 3602
7. Scott McDonald
Remembered as a reliable goal-scorer at both Parkhead and the Riverside, he bagged 39 goals in 124 appearances over three years at Middlesbrough after arriving from Celtic for a fee of £3.5million. Famously denied Celtic the title as a Motherwell player on 'Helicopter Sunday' prior to his move to the club, but did his best to make up for it by scoring 51 goals in Glasgow. Retired in 2022, he now works as a Football Director at Gold Coast Knights in his native Australia. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
8. Juninho
An iconic name at Middlesbrough, the diminutive Brazilian was a high-profile, major disappointment at Celtic. Playing well on his debut in a 1-0 win over Rangers at Parkhead in 2004, he was unable to repeat that performance, and appeared in just 13 more games for the club after falling behind a young Aiden McGeady in the pecking order. He was released from his contract by mutual consent less than eight months after his arrival, he returned to Brazil to play for Palmeiras. Prior to his return to the club as manager last year, Martin O'Neill admitted the player "just wasn't for us" and conceded that the pair "never really got on." A major Celtic flop. | AFP via Getty Images