9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Perth, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, St Johnstone versus Celtic; Jordan Lotomba of Celtic
David Friel has branded Jordan Lotomba as one of the most pointless signings in recent history.
Less than two months into his Celtic career that seems a harsh judgement on the player or recruitment at Celtic.
Celtic effectively took on Lotomba’s Feyenoord contract with a deal agreed until the end of this season.
Signing at the end of the transfer window is never ideal.
The departure of Marcelo Saracchi left a glaring need for a left-back in the Celtic squad.
When Alistair Johnston picked up an injury on August 9 the right-back position began to look vulnerable.
Lotomba was signed to provide cover for both of those positions but has so far been restricted to three appearances off the bench totalling 31 minutes.
Running through the six signings made in the final 36 hours before the UEFA transfer window closed Friel highlighted Lotomba.
In an opinion piece in The Sun he wrote:
Landon Emenalo and Shim Mheuka didn’t make the European squad, while Oliver Sorensen has been miles off it.
Sam Johnstone has had a good career but looks like a third-choice EPL keeper who is coming back from a shoulder operation.
Joel van den Berg cost £3.5million but is a kid with limited first-team experience who has yet to kick a ball for Celtic.
Jordan Lotomba was one of the most pointless signings in recent history and there is a long list of them.
The Swiss full-back would be as well ripping up his contract just now because he won’t see much action.
That bizarre signing spree was Celtic’s reaction to entering the Europa League after dragging their heels over adding the likes of Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur.
There is a reason why most successful clubs in Europe have a proper structure, with a sporting director leading the recruitment and football strategy.
FRIEL DOESN’T HOLD BACK ON CELTIC RECRUITMENT
There are some strong criticisms in there covering almost all aspects of the club.
But the criticism of Lotomba is probably the most brutal.
With eight full caps for Switzerland and a CV that includes Feyenoord, Nice and YB Bern Lotomba should have some sort of pedigree.
Saracchi arrived last season at the same age, filled in for Kieran Tierney and left as something of a hero.
In January Celtic made another raft of questionable signings.
Five players came in on loan, none were retained with very little impact made.
Joel Mvuka made two part appearances in the Scottish Cup but not a minute of playing time in the SPFL. This season the winger is part of the Bodo Glimt squad in the Champions League.
All of the above does highlight the need for a Director of Football to lay down a template and execute it.
The amount of loan signings and one season contracts suggests that the club is unsure of the players that they are bringing in.
Lotomba may be deemed pointless by Friel but he has been included in the Europa League squad ahead of Mheuka, van den Berg and Emenalo.
Does he ever point out any of the lies or pointless claims made by the stupid sun paper