Liel Abada (Out)

Charlotte FC - a club barely 4 years old - will have surpassed our record transfer fee if true.

 

Fee is $8.7mn which is just short of £7mn

 

Liel Abada is holding talks with Charlotte in MLS over a Celtic transfer exit.

Football Scotland understands the winger, 22, has been in conversations with the US outfit over a switch since the end of last week and the fee could come close to around £10million for the Israeli. Abada was recently "not in the right frame of mind" to play for the club, as Brendan Rodgers explained, following the ongoing Middle East conflict amid the Hoops' fanbase's public backing of Palestine

Abada is contracted at Parkhead until 2027 having recently signed an extension. He has made 112 appearances for the Hoops and banged in 29 goals in that period having joined the club under Ange Postecoglou


We at Football Scotland exclusively told you back in early October how Abada had privately met with Celtic hierarchy about his future as they offered support amid the conflict. The player missed James Forrest's testimonial dinner the evening before their Athletic Bilbao friendly as he nursed an injury at the time.

That meeting was then confirmed by the manager before Abada struggled on the pitch upon his return. He's been left out of the previous matchday squads and is now expected to seal his move to the USA this week with the finer details being thrashed out

 

He knew we had been fined in 2016 for banners of support for palestine.

He will do the same as Bitton and criticise our Fans when.he leaves

Sorry for not feeling sympathy for a guy that's paid 20 grand a week from a country that have turned into the nazis they tried to escape.

 

You are aware that palestine has been bulldozed by Israel since after ww2 right ?

 

Such a * end to his career with us, would have been best for both parties if he left last summer.

A limited player, but provided us with some special moments, £3 million is very little for him but considering his form this season and the situation, I doubt we were getting much more, surprised we got anything, thought we would have agreed to rip up his contract.

 

He's *..

* him..

 

Liel Abada is set to link up with former Rangers rival Scott Arfield as the unsettled Celtic star closes in on a move to the MLS.

Football Scotland understands Abada, 22, is finalising a permanent switch to Charlotte FC in a deal that could come close to around £10million. The winger hasn't featured for the Hoops since a sub appearance against Hibs at the start of last month. He has since been left out of the matchday squad, with Brendan Rodgers admitting his key man wasn't "in the right frame of mind" to play for the club. It comes in the wake of a large section of the fanbase's backing of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.


That's prompted huge pressure from the Israeli's homeland, with several high-profile figures urging Abada to quit the Scottish champions. Now, the wide man is on the verge of completing a move stateside and it's expected he will arrive in the States this week to undergo a medical and put the finishing touches on his deal.


The big-money move will see Abada share a dressing room with ex-Ibrox star Arfield, who joined the MLS outfit last June following a five-year stint at Rangers. Former Canada captain Arfield, 35, is under contract until the end of this year but the club hold an option to extend his deal until 2025.


Abada will also join a familiar name in former Leicester, Aston Villa and Norwich City boss Dean Smith, who was recently appointed as ambitious Charlotte's new manager in December.

Abada has only managed one goal in 11 appearances during a stop-start season having missed a large chunk of the campaign with a thigh injury. But overall, the attacker has proved a terrific signing for the club since arriving in a £3.5m move from Maccabi Petah Tikva in 2021 - scoring 29 goals in 122 outings for Celtic.

 

Good.

 

Well maybe since 1948!

In any case zero to do with Abada

 

It can if you're the board...you're allowed to boo the Russians but you're not allowed to boo the Israelis.

 

Couldn’t give a * about him.

 

£10m is pretty good money given how long its been since he had a decent game for us and the fact he seems to actively want out.

 

Still can't get over these Israelis that come to Celtic and then are surprised of our politics.

* idiots.

 

On a side note if you look at it this way since the start of the season selling Jota and then Abada hardly kicking a ball due to injuries and off the field issues, we have lost a big chunk of assist and goals from two wingers who helped us massively the previous two season.

Will Rodgers be given the money to replace them? There’s been two windows already and we’ve still not got proper quality in, I hope this summer is changed but I won’t hold my breath.

At the same time this deal is good business as he doesn’t want to be here.

 

Sad end to his time with us, totally unmitigated and circumstantial. It's frustrating from a bias perspective, but regardless of your own personal and likely justifiable views on the conflict, it's placed Abada in quite the position.

Best of luck to him with the rest of his career, and thanks for the 2 seasons prior to this one

 

If true, that's a stunningly good deal at anywhere even close to £6M never mind £10M

 

Robbing them blind if we get anything over 6mil I think. Had good numbers under ange who had us on fire and could really stretch teams, if he’s tasked to try beat a man etc he’s brutal

 

Couldn't give a * about Abada. He will have seen the Palestine flags and banners at games long before this season and its never bothered him. * him and good riddance.