Basel emerge as possible destination for Celtic’s Balikwisha

DR Congo-Belgian winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha is the subject of a reported move from Celtic to Basel, with the Swiss Super League club linked with a transfer on 16 August.

Balikwisha, 25, joined Celtic from Royal Antwerp for €5.2m on 28 August 2025 and has a contract with the Scottish champions until 30 June 2030. He made no appearances in Celtic’s opening two Scottish Premiership matches or their first League Cup fixture of the 2026-27 season.

The left winger helped Celtic win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup in his first season at the club. His previous spell with Antwerp also brought domestic success, including the Belgian league title in 2022-23, the Belgian Cup in 2023 and the Belgian Super Cup the following season.

Balikwisha began his senior career with Standard Liege before moving to Antwerp in 2021, where he established himself as a regular attacking player. Celtic signed him last summer after his four seasons in Belgium.

The proposed switch would see Balikwisha move from the Scottish Premiership to Basel’s Super League, although the rumour does not include a reported fee or indicate that negotiations have reached an advanced stage. For now, he remains a Celtic player under a long-term contract, despite his lack of competitive minutes at the start of the new campaign.