Key Points
- DR Congo international winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha has joined Belgian Pro League side KAA Gent on loan from Celtic.
- The loan agreement between the two clubs includes an option for KAA Gent to purchase the player permanently.
- Celtic signed the 23-year-old from Royal Antwerp last summer for a £5 million fee.
- Balikwisha played 14 competitive matches for Celtic, scoring no goals and providing two assists.
- KAA Gent manager Rik De Mil and Director Kjeld Fort welcomed the signing, pointing to Balikwisha’s prior experience in the Belgian top division.
Celtic FC (Glasgow Express) August 29, 2026 – As reported by Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times, DR Congo international winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha has officially completed a loan move away from Celtic to join Belgian Pro League outfit KAA Gent. The agreement finalized between the two clubs contains a contractual option allowing the East Flanders side to purchase the player permanently upon completion of the initial loan period.
The move brings a swift end—at least temporarily—to Balikwisha’s challenging spell in Scottish football. The attacker arrived at Parkhead only last summer in a high-profile move from Royal Antwerp valued at £5 million. Despite the considerable financial investment, Balikwisha found first-team opportunities severely limited in Glasgow. Across the entire campaign, the winger managed just 14 competitive appearances in all competitions, registering two assists and failing to open his goalscoring account for the Scottish champions.
How Have KAA Gent Reacted to the Arrival of the £5m Winger?
The leadership team at KAA Gent has moved quickly to welcome the former Antwerp attacker back to his native Belgium, expressing immense confidence in his ability to reignite his form.
As reported by Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times, Gent manager Rik De Mil stated that
“Balikwisha is an experienced player who knows the Belgian league well.”
De Mil further highlighted the player’s natural attacking talents, noting,
“He has proven on numerous occasions that he can make the difference with an individual action, an assist, or a goal. We are therefore very happy that he is joining our squad.”
Sharing the manager’s enthusiasm, KAA Gent Director Kjeld Fort explained that securing additional attacking depth had been a central priority for the club throughout the current transfer window. As reported by Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times, Fort stated that
“It has always been our plan to further strengthen our attack during this transfer window. We have made clear agreements with the coach regarding this.”
Fort added a tactical assessment of the new signing, affirming,
“He is fast, goal-oriented, technically strong, and versatile.”
Background of the Particular Development
Michel-Ange Balikwisha first broke into professional football through the youth ranks at Standard Liège before securing a high-profile transfer to Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2021. During his tenure at Antwerp, the versatile forward established himself as one of the most dynamic wide attackers in the Belgian Pro League, playing a pivotal role in Antwerp’s domestic double-winning campaign in 2022–23.
His consistent performances in domestic competition and European fixtures attracted widespread international scouting interest, ultimately leading Celtic to commit £5 million to secure his signature. However, upon arriving in Glasgow, Balikwisha struggled to adapt to the physical intensity and tactical demands of Scottish football. Hindered by selection competition in wide areas and limited starting opportunities, he fell out of regular first-team rotation, rendering a temporary or permanent departure an increasingly logical resolution for both player and club.
Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Celtic FC and KAA Gent
Impact on uk/sports/celtic-fc/">Celtic FC and Supporters: For Celtic, sanctions of this nature allow the club to trim its squad size and potentially recoup a substantial portion of the initial £5 million expenditure should KAA Gent exercise the option to buy. Fans who watched Balikwisha struggle to break into the team will likely view the exit as sensible squad management, clearing squad space and wages for targets more suited to the manager’s system before the transfer window closes.
Impact on KAA Gent and the Belgian Pro League: For KAA Gent, securing an established Belgian top-flight performer with low upfront financial risk represents a significant tactical coup. Balikwisha returns to a league environment where his pace and technical skill set have previously flourished. If manager Rik De Mil can integrate him swiftly into Gent’s forward line, the DR Congo international is primed to re-establish himself as a leading attacking player in the division, likely prompting Gent to trigger the permanent transfer clause.
