Celtic attacking midfielder Ryan Christie made the surprising decision to sign for English Championship side Bournemouth on deadline day.
The Scotland international opted against putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Hoops or moving to Premier League side Burnley, and supporters on Twitter have been discussing his departure:
Glad to see the back of him
— mcfaldo? (@williammcfauld1) September 1, 2021
He’ll be earning more ££££ though
— SPFL FanView ⚽️ (@spflfanview) September 1, 2021
He will run riot in championship tbh
— Craig? (@theshopfs) September 1, 2021
It’s about money nothing else same as Tierney good luck to them
— Brian Traynor (@BrianTraynor19) September 1, 2021
Edouard going to Palace is a stepping stone. Christie going to Bournemouth is a backward step.
— MarkJN (@MarkJNicholas) September 1, 2021
It’s the paycheck he’s interested in!
— DubaiBhoy1888 (@dubai_bhoy1888) September 1, 2021
I can fit more people on my decking ???
— big ange the 3rd (@calabam38) September 1, 2021
It’s definitely a strange one. Christie has been linked with Arsenal, Leicester and Nice in past transfer windows, and he clearly wanted a new challenge, but turning down an established top-flight team like Burnley does suggest that finances also played a part in the move.
With only six months remaining on his contract at Celtic Park, the Hoops had very little choice but to let him go before he left on a free transfer. The 26-year-old may have struggled for form over the last year but losing him is still disappointing.
It will now be up to new signings like Jota, Liel Abada and Georgios Giakoumakis to come up with the goals and assists that have been lost following Christie’s departure.