Celtic Close in on Haissem Hassan, the Egypt Winger Who Danced Past Argentina
Celtic are on the verge of signing Egypt winger Haissem Hassan from Spanish side Real Oviedo, with reports suggesting an announcement is imminent.
The Daily Record reported on 10 August that the transfer had been "finalised." By the following day, Yahoo Sports confirmed that Celtic had reached an agreement with Real Oviedo and were close to making the signing official. Daily Record
For Celtic fans wondering what kind of player is heading to Glasgow, the World Cup offered a glimpse — albeit a brief one.
Hassan, 24, played just 126 minutes at the 2023 tournament. He did not feature in any of Egypt's Group G matches against Belgium, Iran and New Zealand. Head coach Hossam Hassan, who is also the player's uncle, later revealed the absence was down to a paperwork delay in registering him for the squad. BBC Sport
Once cleared, Hassan made up for lost time. He came on as a second-half substitute in Egypt's last-32 penalty shootout win over Australia. Then, in the last-16 against Argentina, he was handed a start — and delivered the performance that put him on Celtic's radar.
Hassan set up Mostafa Zico's goal, skipping past Enzo Fernandez — the Argentina midfielder who had joined Chelsea for big money — before whipping in a precise cross. Egypt lost the match 3-2, but Hassan's contribution stood out.
The numbers back up the eye test. Across his two World Cup appearances, Hassan attempted nine dribbles (runs at a defender with the ball) at a rate of 6.4 per 90 minutes — a figure that marks him out as a player who relishes taking opponents on. BBC Sport
Hassan's background adds another layer. Born in France, he represented the country at youth level before switching allegiance to Egypt, the land of his heritage. That pathway — a French upbringing filtered through Egyptian passion — gives him a blend of European tactical discipline and the flair traditionally associated with North African football.
For Celtic, the appeal is obvious. Brendan Rodgers' side, Scottish champions and a regular presence in the Champions League group stage, need squad depth capable of performing on multiple fronts. A winger who can beat a man one-on-one is a valuable asset in domestic matches where opponents sit deep and in European nights where a moment of individual brilliance can shift the momentum.
Real Oviedo, recently promoted back to Spain's second tier, face the reality of holding onto a player whose World Cup performances have elevated his profile well beyond their reach.
What makes this stand out is how little pitch time Hassan needed to make an impression. Two substitute appearances, 126 minutes, one assist against one of the tournament favourites — and now a move to one of Britain's biggest clubs. Not every signing arrives with a World Cup highlight reel this vivid.
