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Celtic dominance of the Scottish Premiership over the last decade has largely been attributed to their excellent recruitment strategy - and few would disagree.
While not all signings have worked out, the champions have long found success when it comes to spotting talent at a low cost. Even more impressively, the Hoops hierarchy have found a number of successful purchases signings in the notoriously difficult January window, with many of their current starting XI arriving at Celtic Park in the new year.
But who have been Celtic’s best ever January signings since the window was introduced in the 2002-03 season.
Here, The Scotsman rank Celtic’s best ever January transfer, from 16-1.
13. Kristoffer Ajer - £650k from Start
Another player who succeeded on the pitch, and made Celtic a huge profit off it. Still playing in the EPL with Brentford, Ajer was brought in for just £650k and went on to win eight trophies in four seasons before the Bees paid £13million to prize him away from the Hoops. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
14. Leigh Griffiths - £1million from Wolves
Scored 123 goals for Celtic only cost just £1million - surely there can't be many better value January signings than Griffiths? His time at Celtic ended poorly, but Griffiths will be remembered as a regular goal-getter for the Hoops, with his goals helping the club win 14 trophies. Won the PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year in 2016 and the SFWA Footballer of the Year twice, in 2013 and 2016. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
15. Daizen Maeda - £1.4million from Yokohama F. Marinos
A game-changing signing. Few have made the impact that the energetic Japanese forward has. Joining for a minimal fee in January 2022, Maeda has transformed the Hoops into a high-pressing, full throttle team - and provided fans with countless memorable moments. A bona fide Celtic hero already. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
16. Matt O'Riley - £1.5million from MK Dons
Of all the January signings Celtic have made, nobody has quite matched the value or impact of the Danish midfielder. Purchased for just £1.5million from EFL League One outfit MK Dons, the 24-year-old almost immediately morphed into the best midfielder in the Scottish Premiership, and became a fully fledged senior international. A 2024 PFA Scottish Premiership Player of the Year nominee, O'Riley won three Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup during his time in Glasgow, and made Celtic a £24.5million profit when he departed for Brighton in the summer. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group