Celtic Eye Atalanta Left-Back Mitchel Bakker Transfer Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Atalanta are actively seeking a fresh buyer for 26-year-old Dutch left-back Mitchel Bakker before the August transfer window closes.
• Transfer reporter Ekrem Konur has disclosed that Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have shown concrete interest in securing the defender’s services.
• Atalanta anticipate a decisive development regarding Bakker’s future within the coming days as the player remains surplus to requirements in Bergamo.
• Bakker’s current contract with the Serie A outfit runs until June 2027, with his weekly wages estimated around €54,231 (£47,000).
• The defender’s career has recently been hampered by a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear suffered in July 2025, restricting him to just one Serie A appearance and nine minutes of football during the 2025/26 campaign.
• Prior to his time in Italy, Bakker represented European heavyweights Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayer Leverkusen, alongside a temporary loan spell at French club Lille.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) August 19, 2026 – The Scottish Premiership giants have emerged as prominent contenders in the race to acquire 26-year-old defender Mitchel Bakker, with Serie A outfit Atalanta eager to offload the €54,231-a-week full-back before the summer transfer window slams shut. As club officials in Bergamo anticipate a swift resolution to the defender’s contractual standoff, recruitment teams across Europe are closely evaluating the risk and reward associated with a player whose career trajectory has been severely disrupted by long-term injury setbacks.

Why Are Atalanta Eager to Offload Mitchel Bakker This Summer?

As detailed in coverage by sports publication The 4th Official, Italian Serie A side Atalanta are actively working to secure the best possible buyer for Mitchel Bakker before the August window closes.

The Bergamo-based club has determined that the Dutch left-back is surplus to requirements following a turbulent period in Italy. As noted by the publication, Atalanta have every reason to listen to incoming offers and expect a decisive development within the next few days regarding the defender’s permanent departure.

What Has Transfer Reporter Ekrem Konur Revealed About Celtic’s Interest?

According to transfer reporter Ekrem Konur, Scottish giants Celtic have firmly entered the race by showing active interest in the former Netherlands youth international.

As reported by Ekrem Konur, Celtic have emerged as one of the primary clubs monitoring the market opportunity surrounding Bakker.

However, despite the mounting speculation, reports indicate that no formal agreement or bid has been finalized between the clubs, leaving the door open for other interested parties across Europe and the Turkish Süper Lig.

How Did Injuries and Loan Spells Shape Bakker’s Time in Italy?

As highlighted in investigative sports reporting by OneFootball, Bakker’s lack of first-team football stems from a major physical setback. Atalanta officially confirmed that in July 2025, Bakker suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during training, requiring immediate surgery consisting of ACL reconstruction and peripheral meniscus repair.

Consequently, his rehabilitation dictated a grueling recovery season where he managed only a single Serie A appearance, logging a mere nine minutes of competitive action. Prior to this, Bakker spent time on loan at French club Lille during the 2024/25 season before returning to Bergamo.

What Do Other Reports Say About Bakker’s Contract and Availability?

Adding further clarity to the player’s market status, well-known journalist Ben Jacobs reported that Mitchel Bakker is essentially free to find a new club with immediate effect. As stated by Ben Jacobs, Atalanta view the 26-year-old wing-back as entirely surplus to requirements, informing him that he can depart.

While Bakker’s formal contract with Atalanta is tied down until June 2027—carrying a weekly salary package of approximately €54,231 (£47,000)—the club is prepared to facilitate a departure to clear wage space. Before joining Atalanta from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2023 for a reported €9.5 million fee, Bakker built an impressive pedigree representing Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain.

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Background of the Particular Development

The background of Mitchel Bakker’s current transfer saga is rooted in a combination of high-profile expectations, shifting tactical setups in Serie A, and unfortunate medical misfortune.

Born in Purmerend, Netherlands, on June 20, 2000, Bakker rose through the renowned youth ranks of Ajax before securing a high-profile move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. During his stint in Paris, he gained valuable Champions League experience under top-tier managers before transferring to German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 for €7 million.

Atalanta subsequently secured his signature in July 2023 for €9.5 million to bolster their left-wing-back options under Gian Piero Gasperini.

However, adapting to the rigorous physical and tactical demands of Italian football proved challenging. After struggling to secure a permanent starting berth, he was loaned to Lille in August 2024 to regain momentum.

Upon returning to Atalanta in the summer of 2025, hopes of resurrecting his Italian career were shattered when he suffered a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury during pre-season preparations in July 2025.

This long-term layoff effectively wrote off his entire 2025/26 campaign, leaving Atalanta with an underutilised, high-earning asset on their books as they plan their squad for the 2026/27 season. Celtic’s renewed interest comes at a time when the Glasgow club is looking to reinforce its defensive depth following recent domestic fixtures in the Scottish Premiership and upcoming European commitments.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Celtic and Their Supporters

Evaluating how this evolving transfer development can impact Celtic and their fan base involves balancing squad ambition with financial and sporting prudence. For Celtic supporters, the prospect of welcoming a player with pedigree from Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayer Leverkusen naturally generates excitement and anticipation regarding European squad depth.

However, analysts point out significant sporting risks. A severe knee injury of the magnitude Bakker suffered can significantly impact a player’s explosive acceleration, lateral agility, and match sharpness—vital attributes for a modern wing-back expected to execute high-intensity overlaps throughout ninety minutes.

If Celtic decide to push beyond mere monitoring and commit to a permanent transfer or a substantial financial package covering his reported €54,231-a-week wages, it places immense pressure on the club’s recruitment department to ensure his medical fitness is fully restored.

Conversely, if Celtic approach the deal with caution—opting for a structured loan or a heavily incentive-based arrangement—it could provide low-risk, high-reward defensive cover without straining club finances. For the supporters, the ultimate impact will hinge on whether Bakker can recover his pre-injury dynamism or whether the investment risks locking the club into an expensive rehabilitation project during a crucial competitive season.