Celtic could ditch Hatate by releasing incredible 19-year-old

It has been a frustrating start to the 2025/26 campaign for Celtic central midfielder Arne Engels, who has failed to get going after his first season at the club.

The Hoops signed him for a record fee of £11 million from Augsburg last summer, creating buzz for the Belgian ace, and his first year at Parkhead was quite impressive.

Engels has scored ten goals, including eight from the penalty spot, and 13 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions, according to Transfermarkt, for the Scottish giants.

Unfortunately, his performance at the top of the pitch has declined during the current campaign, with no goals and one assist in 12 appearances for the Hoops.

Brendan Rodgers has only started the Belgium international in three of the club’s nine matches in the Scottish Premiership and Europa League this season, showing that the manager has not placed much faith in him due to his recent performances.

The 22-year-old star’s struggles this season are particularly frustrating when you consider that Reo Hatate has not been at his best in the middle of the park.

Why Celtic may need to replace Reo Hatate

Benjamin Nygren secured a position in midfield, with four Premiership goals, alongside captain Callum McGregor, and Hatate was the third starter among the three midfielders.

The Japan international has started all five of his appearances in the Scottish top flight, according to Sofascore, but his performances have not quite reached the levels he achieved in the 2024/25 campaign.

Hatate scored one goal, against Aberdeen in the Premiership in August, and failed to register any assists for his teammates in ten outings in all competitions, according to Transfermarkt.

The Japanese star, whose goal against Aberdeen in the clip above was stunning, was unable to get going after his impressive performance at the top of the pitch in the 2024/25 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Hatate hasn’t been as effective, as a scorer or goal creator, in the middle of the park in the Premiership this season.

These statistics suggest that the 27-year-old star has not been at his best for the Hoops in midfield in the league, as he has struggled to influence matches as he did last year.

That’s why Rodgers may need to start thinking about what his midfield might look like without Hatate in the team, unless the Japan international can improve his form and return to what he produced consistently in the 2024/25 campaign.

However, Engels’ aforementioned dip in form suggests Celtic may have to look elsewhere for a replacement for Hatate, as the Belgian flop has failed to step up this season.

Rodgers, as he did with the emergence of Colby Donovan, could look to the B team to bring an academy talent into the first team to compete for a place in central midfield.

Francis Turley, 19, made his first-team debut for the Scottish giants as a substitute against St Mirren in the Premiership in August last year, and he could become Hatate’s replacement.

Why Francis Turley could replace Reo Hatate at Celtic

If the Japan international is unable to return to his best form in Glasgow and Engels cannot return to his best in a Celtic shirt, there could be an opportunity for the teenage talent to break into the team.

The Northern Ireland U21 international clearly impressed enough to earn a senior place last year against St Mirren, showing Rodgers is well aware of his talent and believes he has the potential to be a future Hoops star.

Speaking after that match, the Celtic boss said: “He (Turley) has been very, very good during pre-season, he has a lot of work to do physically in his development, and that will come both with his work and his natural maturation.

“But at 18 he has a great footballing brain, and that’s a great reward for him and his family, and he can now keep pushing to get more matches.”

These comments show that Rodgers has been impressed with the youngster’s performances in that time, which is why he should also be impressed with his form in the current campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Turley has scored two goals and provided two assists in ten Lowland League appearances for the B team this season, while Hatate has only scored one goal in all competitions.

The 19-year-old starlet, who has scored seven goals in his last 57 appearances at academy level (Transfermarkt), has shown he can offer quality as an attacking threat from a central midfield position, something that Engels and Hatate have struggled with of late.

Turley, poetically in this context, replaced Hatate to make his debut against St Mirren last year, and it could be the Japan international who loses his place in the team to make way for the teenager to establish himself in the senior team.

It is now up to Rodgers to provide Northern Ireland’s talent with the opportunity to shine in the first team if Hatate and Engels both continue to struggle in the Premiership and European competitions this season.

Hopefully, Turley will be able to seize his chance and make a name for himself at the senior level for the Scottish giants if that opportunity comes his way.