1 week ago
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Celtic FC is closing in on a deal to sign Ermin Mahmic from Czech side Slovan Liberec, with the transfer fee expected to land between £6M and £7M. If completed, it would be the biggest sale in Liberec’s history.
Mahmic, a 21-year-old Bosnian attacking midfielder, has been left out of Liberec’s recent matchday squads as negotiations progress. He reportedly attended a recent match to say goodbye to fans.
World Cup breakout to Glasgow bound
Born on March 14, 2005, he joined Liberec just last year from Austrian lower-division club SV Lafnitz. In his first full season in the Czech First League, he logged 28 league appearances and scored 7 goals.
Mahmic scored twice at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making him Bosnia and Herzegovina’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. He now has 5 senior caps and 2 international goals. Those performances put him on the radar of clubs well beyond the Czech league. Schalke and Red Bull Salzburg both reportedly expressed interest, but Celtic appear to have moved fastest and most decisively.
What Mahmic brings to Parkhead
Celtic’s interest makes sense when you look at what they’ve been doing this transfer window. The club has already brought in Mika Baur and Camilo Duran as part of an effort to reload their attacking options. Mahmic fits the profile: young, versatile in advanced midfield positions, and coming off a season where he scored 7 goals in 28 Czech league games.
Liberec manager Branislav Fodrek has confirmed that Mahmic continues to train with the squad despite the ongoing transfer discussions.
Record fee for Liberec, smart business for Celtic
For Liberec, the deal represents a validation of their transfer strategy. They signed Mahmic from SV Lafnitz in June 2025, gave him a platform to develop, and are now set to cash in at a club-record fee after just one season.
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