Celtic supporters could be about to witness one of the more unexpected developments of the summer window. With only a matter of weeks remaining before the deadline, the Parkhead hierarchy are understood to be monitoring a genuine opportunity to strengthen the squad without spending a single penny in transfer fees.
A 26-year-old defender currently on the books of a Serie A club has suddenly become available on a free transfer, creating a situation that rarely presents itself at this level of the game.
Players with established European experience and a once-promising reputation do not often become available without a fee attached, yet that is precisely the scenario now unfolding.
The timing alone makes it worthy of serious consideration as the club continues its search for defensive options before the window closes.
According to respected transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, with the information first relayed through Transfer Feed, Atalanta are prepared to sanction the departure of Dutch left-sided defender Mitchel Bakker on a free transfer. This comes despite the fact that his contract still has more than a year to run, stretching all the way until June 2027.
Celtic are believed to hold genuine interest in the player as they assess options to reinforce the back line. It is an eye-catching development for a club that has historically shown a willingness to move quickly when value appears in the market.
How a Highly Rated Career Lost Momentum in Bergamo
To understand why this opportunity has arisen, it is necessary to examine the path that brought the player to this point.
Mitchel Bakker arrived at Atalanta carrying a strong reputation built across some of Europe’s more competitive leagues. Spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen and Lille had previously showcased a defender with physical presence, pace and the ability to contribute in advanced areas.
Those attributes once marked him out as one of the more promising young full-backs on the continent. Expectations were high when he made the move to Bergamo.
Yet the reality of life under Atalanta’s coaching staff proved very different. Game time proved extremely limited.
Across the entire 2025/26 Serie A campaign, Bakker managed just a single substitute appearance and a total of only nine minutes on the pitch. That figure is not the result of a minor dip in form or a short-term tactical preference.
It represents a complete absence of regular involvement at senior level. When a player of his age and background spends an entire season on the periphery, questions about rhythm, confidence and match sharpness become unavoidable.
The lack of minutes helps explain why all parties now appear ready to explore an exit.
Atalanta are willing to allow him to leave without a fee, while the player himself would understandably be seeking regular football elsewhere. For Celtic, the absence of a transfer fee immediately alters the financial calculation.
In a window where budgets must be carefully managed, the chance to acquire a player with that level of prior experience without paying an upfront sum is rare.
Why the Free Transfer Opportunity Holds Clear Appeal
Free transfers always generate interest, particularly when the individual in question is still only 26. At that age, there remains scope for a career revival if the right environment and consistent opportunities are provided.
Celtic would not be required to part with a sizeable fee, allowing more of the available budget to be directed towards other priority positions.
That financial flexibility is valuable in any transfer window, but especially so when the club is balancing domestic ambitions with European commitments.
Versatility is another factor that strengthens the case. Bakker is comfortable operating at left-back and possesses the physical attributes to push higher up the flank when the system demands it.
The combination of pace and physicality once made him an attractive prospect for clubs across Europe.
On paper, those qualities align with the demands of the modern game, where full-backs are expected to contribute in both defensive and attacking phases.
Avoiding a transfer fee naturally changes the risk-reward equation, even if wage demands would still require careful negotiation.
Celtic’s recruitment team have previously shown an ability to identify value in the free agent market. When the right profile becomes available at the right moment, the club has not been afraid to act.
The current situation presents a similar profile: a relatively young defender with experience at a high level, available without a fee, and still with time on his side to rebuild momentum.
For a squad looking to add depth without overstretching resources, the attraction is understandable.
The Significant Risks That Cannot Be Ignored
Scratch beneath the surface, however, and the picture becomes far less straightforward.
Nine league minutes across an entire campaign is not merely a quiet season. It is a footballer arriving without competitive rhythm, without match sharpness and potentially without the confidence that comes from regular involvement.
Celtic operate in an environment where consistency is demanded from the first whistle. European fixtures, in particular, leave little room for extended adaptation periods.
A player who has spent the majority of a season watching from the stands would need time to regain the levels that once made him highly regarded.
There is also the matter of international recognition. Despite the early promise that surrounded his career, Bakker has never won a senior cap for the Netherlands.
That detail does not automatically disqualify a player, yet it does form part of the wider context.
Past reputation can only carry an individual so far. Recruitment decisions must ultimately rest on recent evidence rather than the potential that existed several years earlier.
The physical and technical demands of Scottish football, combined with the intensity of European competition, require players who are already operating close to their peak. Bringing in someone who requires significant rebuilding carries an inherent risk.
If the adaptation period proves longer than anticipated, the squad could find itself carrying a high-wage player who is not yet contributing on the pitch. That scenario is one any club would prefer to avoid in a competitive campaign.
Squad Balance and Competing Priorities at Parkhead
Celtic’s current squad structure further complicates the decision. Martin O’Neill already has Kieran Tierney available on the left side of defence, a player whose quality and experience are well established.
Liam Scales has also proven himself a dependable option, contributing meaningfully during last season’s domestic double success.
The presence of those two options means any new arrival would need to offer clear additional value rather than simply adding another body in a similar position.
Following the narrow opening-day victory over Dundee, O’Neill publicly acknowledged that his players looked rusty.
That observation points towards a broader need for freshness across the squad. Many supporters and observers would argue that attacking quality represents a more pressing requirement than another left-sided defender, particularly one who may need considerable time to reach full match fitness and confidence.
Directing limited resources towards the final third could yield a more immediate return in terms of goals and creativity.
The balance of the squad must remain central to any recruitment discussion. Depth is valuable, but depth in the wrong areas can create its own problems. Wage bills, squad harmony and the need for players who can contribute from the outset all form part of the equation.
A free transfer only remains free if the subsequent wages and the opportunity cost of using a squad place are carefully weighed.
External Interest and the Wider Market Picture
Celtic are not the only club monitoring the situation. Interest has also been reported from Marseille, where head coach Bruno Genesio is understood to be considering the possibility of a loan move.
Any competition for the player’s signature could influence both the speed of negotiations and the financial package required to complete a deal. While the absence of a transfer fee removes one major obstacle, wages and personal terms remain open to discussion.
It is also worth noting that Thomas Tuchel previously admired Bakker’s athletic profile earlier in his career. Historical endorsements of that nature can create residual interest, yet modern recruitment cannot be based solely on opinions formed several seasons ago.
The player’s recent record of almost non-existent game time must remain the primary consideration. Old admiration does not automatically translate into current suitability for a demanding environment such as Celtic.
The wider transfer market continues to evolve rapidly as the deadline approaches. Clubs across Europe are assessing their remaining needs and the available options.
Free agents and players whose clubs are prepared to cut ties often become more prominent in the final weeks. Celtic’s ability to move decisively, should they decide the profile fits, will determine whether this particular opportunity develops further or fades as other targets take priority.
What a Potential Move Would Mean for Celtic
Should the interest develop into a concrete approach, the decision would ultimately rest on a clear-eyed assessment of risk versus reward. On the positive side stands a 26-year-old defender with experience at major European clubs, available without a fee, and possessing the physical tools that once marked him out as a prospect.
On the negative side sits a season of almost total inactivity, the absence of recent competitive sharpness, and a squad that already contains established options in the same area of the pitch.
Celtic’s recent domestic success has been built on squad coherence and the ability to maintain high standards across a long season. Introducing a player who requires significant rebuilding work could disrupt that balance if the integration process proves difficult.
Conversely, if the individual is able to rediscover previous levels relatively quickly, the club would have secured useful depth at minimal transfer cost.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the reported interest translates into formal negotiations. Free transfers of this nature often move quickly once both clubs and the player align on terms. For supporters, the story offers an intriguing subplot in a window that has already produced its share of speculation. Whether it ultimately becomes more than speculation will depend on how Celtic’s recruitment team weigh the clear financial advantages against the very real footballing risks.
In the meantime, the mere existence of the opportunity underlines how fluid the final stages of a transfer window can become. A player who spent almost an entire season on the fringes of a Serie A squad is now being linked with a potential move to one of Scotland’s biggest clubs. That journey from limited minutes in Bergamo to serious consideration at Parkhead captures the unpredictable nature of the modern market. Celtic must decide whether the chance to add experience without a fee outweighs the concerns over recent inactivity and squad balance. The answer to that question will shape one of the more interesting subplots of the remaining window.
As the deadline draws closer, every potential addition is scrutinised not only for quality but for readiness. A free transfer only delivers value if the player can contribute meaningfully within a realistic timeframe. For a club with ambitions on multiple fronts, that readiness is non-negotiable. The situation surrounding the 26-year-old Dutch defender therefore represents both an opportunity and a test of Celtic’s recruitment priorities in the final weeks of the window.