Celtic Secures Junior Adamu on Loan from Freiburg

Celtic has officially signed Austrian international Junior Adamu from Bundesliga club Freiburg on loan, including an option to purchase at the end of the season. In a related move, fellow striker Johnny Kenny has been loaned to Bolton Wanderers.

At 24 years old and originally from Nigeria, Adamu developed his skills at the RB Salzburg academy, where he recorded an impressive 23 goals in 84 appearances. His performance earned him a transfer to Freiburg in 2023, where he has scored seven goals in 67 matches.

This season, Adamu has participated in 18 games, starting 14 of them, and netting once. However, he has seen limited action recently, featuring only once as a substitute in Freiburg’s last ten Bundesliga matches. He did start in the recent Europa League defeat against Lille.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill expressed his enthusiasm for Adamu, highlighting the player’s “experience of high-level football” and involvement in European competitions. “We are bringing in a talented and experienced international forward to enhance our attacking options,” he stated on Celtic’s official website.

This acquisition marks Adamu as Celtic’s third signing of the January transfer window, all being loan deals. Czech striker Tomas Cvancara has already made an impact by scoring post-transfer from Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Bournemouth full-back Julian Araujo has also begun to impress.

Adamu is focused on achieving a league and Scottish Cup double while contributing significantly in terms of goals. He commented, “I’ve spoken with the manager, and he’s provided me with the motivation and trust I need. I feel a strong connection with his system.”

Regarding his playing style, Adamu asserted, “I’m dangerous in the box and hungry for goals. That’s what the manager sees in me, and I’m eager to demonstrate that on the pitch.”

In the meantime, Johnny Kenny heads to Bolton, currently positioned third in League One, having struggled to secure a starting role since O’Neill’s return. The 22-year-old Irishman, who joined Celtic from Shamrock Rovers in January 2024, has appeared in 22 matches this season, starting 12 and scoring six times.