Osaze Urhoghide has rejoined Oostende on a season long loan.
The defender was played back to back 90 minutes in Celtic’s first two pre-season friendlies but with Tony Ralston and Josip Juranovic available he dropped out on contention.
In January Urhoghide turned down opportunities to go on loan to Morecombe and Dundee, electing to go to Oostende who had taken Jack Hendry on loan during the Lockdown season.
The Belgian side had an option to buy the former Sheffield Wednesday defender but it was outwith their budget, tonight they announced another loan deal on their club website.
KVO has a new defender to sign. New is relative, however, because it is an old acquaintance that returns. Osaze Urhoghide was already rented from the Scottish top club Celtic Glasgow for several months last season and now he returns to the Belgian coast after a few months.
Gauthier Ganaye: “Osaze proved last season that he was an absolute added value in our team. We wanted to keep him with us for longer, but at first we didn’t find an agreement with Celtic.
However, Osaze himself expressed the wish to return to KVO and we therefore kept in touch with him and Celtic. Over the past week, however, the case has gained momentum.
Osaze is happy that he is returning here and we are very pleased that we have a strong holder in the defense and also someone who already knows the way the club and trainer work. Now we just wait for offensive reinforcements and then we are armed to play a competitive season.”
Urhoghide was technically the first new player to sign for Celtic under Ange Postecoglou but it is unlikely that the new manager was heavily involved in the deal.
After a few pre-season outings he had to wait until December for his competitive debut, impressing at right-back in the Europa League dead rubber against Real Betis.
Postecoglou is starring to thin out the Celtic squad but others such as Liam Shaw, Scott Robertson, Liam Shaw and Albian Ajeti could also go out on loan before the transfer window closes.