Haitham Hassan makes Celtic debut in four-goal Scottish League Cup win

Celtic reached the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup with a 4-0 victory over Dundee United, while new signing Haitham Hassan made his first appearance for the club.

Hassan came on in the 71st minute to complete his Celtic debut after joining the Scottish champions on a four-year contract that runs until the summer of 2030.

The Egyptian winger’s first appearance came as Celtic secured a comfortable victory and progressed to the last four of the competition. His arrival at Celtic was previously reported by Sky, with the transfer understood to have been completed for £6m, plus approximately £3m in additional bonuses.

Celtic are now hoping Hassan can be included in the squad for Wednesday’s first leg against LASK in the Champions League qualifying play-off round. The tie will determine which side advances to the main league phase of the competition.

Before that European fixture, Celtic’s focus will turn to preparing for their meeting with the Austrian club, with Hassan’s debut giving him an early opportunity to establish himself in his new team.

Celtic have also made a strong start to the new Scottish Premiership season. They sit top of the table with six points from their opening two matches.

Hassan joined Celtic after helping Oviedo secure promotion to Spain’s top flight. However, Oviedo were relegated back to the second tier after only one season in La Liga.

The 2025-26 campaign was Hassan’s final season with Oviedo, during which he played 38 matches. He provided three assists but did not score.

The 2026 World Cup also brought Hassan international experience with Egypt. He featured in two matches at the tournament, created a goal against Argentina and played a part in another impressive finish that was ruled out following a review by video assistant referee technology.

His Celtic debut against Dundee United therefore marked the latest step in a significant period of his career, following promotion in Spain, participation at the World Cup and his move to Scotland.

Celtic’s 4-0 win ensures they remain in contention for the Scottish League Cup, while the club’s immediate priority will be the Champions League play-off against LASK. Victory over the Austrian side would secure a place in the main league phase of Europe’s premier club competition.