Celtic Advances on £2.5M Deal for Qarabag Striker Camilo Duran

CelticTeam·Celtic has made notable strides in securing the services of Qarabag striker Camilo DuranPlayer·Camilo Duran, as the Scottish Premiership champions look to reinforce their squad for the upcoming campaign. The club is reportedly working towards a deal valued at approximately £2.5 million for the 24-year-old Colombian international.

The need for attacking reinforcements at Parkhead has become a priority for CelticTeam·Celtic, who finished first in the Scottish Premiership during the 2025/26 season, securing 82 points from 26 wins, 4 draws, and 8 defeats. This performance earned them a spot in the 2026-2027 Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League play-off round. The club also lifted the Scottish Cup and reached the final of the Scottish League Cup.

Manager Martin O'Neill is actively seeking new forwards following several departures. Kelechi IheanachoPlayer·Kelechi Iheanacho became a free agent after his contract expired, while Tomas CvancaraPlayer·Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu concluded their loan spells without permanent transfers. Additionally, Daizen MaedaPlayer·Daizen Maeda, a key attacking figure, is expected to attract significant interest this summer, with O'Neill indicating in May that he would not impede the 28-year-old's ambition to challenge himself at a higher level.

Camilo DuranPlayer·Camilo Duran arrives with a strong reputation, particularly for his performances in European competition. In his debut season with Qarabag, after joining from Portuguese side Portimonense for under £200,000, Duran registered an impressive 25 goal contributions across 45 appearances, comprising 15 goals and 10 assists. His five goals in last season's Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League, notably against formidable opponents such as BenficaTeam·Benfica, AjaxTeam·Ajax, Eintracht FrankfurtTeam·Eintracht Frankfurt, and Newcastle UnitedTeam·Newcastle United, have particularly caught CelticTeam·Celtic's attention as they aim for success on the continental stage.

While progress has been made, reports indicate that an initial bid of around £1.7 million was rejected by Qarabag, suggesting CelticTeam·Celtic will need to increase their offer to the £2.5-3 million range to finalize the transfer. Duran remains under contract with the Azerbaijani champions until the summer of 2028.

The potential acquisition of Duran is part of a broader busy summer for CelticTeam·Celtic. The club is also reportedly targeting goalkeepers Dinko HorkasPlayer·Dinko Horkas from Las Palmas and Tjark Ernst of Hertha Berlin. Midfielder Reo HatatePlayer·Reo Hatate has also expressed a desire for a new challenge, reiterating his ambition to play in one of Europe's top five leagues.

"I would like to challenge myself in one of the top five leagues," Hatate said. "I’m not saying I’m satisfied, but I have had the opportunity to play in the Champions League and other high-level leagues, but I still haven’t been able to play at such a high level for an entire season."

Other players attracting interest include Arne EngelsPlayer·Arne Engels and Benjamin NygrenPlayer·Benjamin Nygren, who enjoyed an impressive 21-goal season. The strategic recruitment of a proven goalscorer like Duran is seen as vital for CelticTeam·Celtic's aspirations to navigate the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League play-off rounds and compete effectively in the group stage.