Key Points
- Celtic reported a 28.9% revenue drop to £59.4 million for the six months ended December 31, 2025, from £83.5 million the previous year.
- Profit before taxation fell to £13.2 million from £43.9 million, mainly due to Europa League participation instead of the Champions League.
- Profit from player transfers decreased to £14.1 million, including sales of Nicolas Kühn, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Marco Tilio and Adam Idah.
- The club maintained a cash position of £67.4 million and expects lower revenue and profits in the second half of the year ending June 30, 2026.
- Managerial changes included Brendan Rodgers’ resignation in October 2025 and the brief tenure of Wilfried Nancy.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) February 14, 2026 – Celtic plc has disclosed a sharp decline in half-year revenue and profits, attributing the downturn primarily to its failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
The Scottish Premiership club saw revenue fall 28.9% to £59.4 million for the period ended December 31, 2025, compared with £83.5 million last year, according to its interim financial report. Profit before taxation dropped to £13.2 million from £43.9 million, reflecting lower media rights and ticket pricing from Europa League matches rather than the Champions League.
What caused Celtic’s revenue to plummet?
The decline stems from a shock Champions League play-off exit on penalties to Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, dropping the club into the Europa League, as detailed in the interim report published on the official Celtic FC website. Profit from trading before intangible asset transactions fell to £4.2 million from £26.9 million, driven by reduced revenue and lower net gains from player sales.
As reported by Investing.com, player acquisition spending decreased to £13.7 million from £28.1 million, while cash reserves rose slightly to £67.4 million from £65.4 million.
How has managerial turmoil affected the club?
Celtic endured a turbulent season with manager Brendan Rodgers resigning in October 2025, followed by Wilfried Nancy’s short stint from December 2025 to January 2026, according to Morningstar. The club now sits third in the Scottish Premiership under interim chairman Brian Wilson, who succeeded Peter Lawwell on December 31, 2025.
What did Celtic’s leadership say about the finances?
According to Daily Business Group, Brian Wilson stated:
“The decline in H1 revenue compared to the same period last year is primarily due to Europa League participation as opposed to Champions League participation, which we had last season.”
He added expectations of significantly lower revenue and profits for the second half.
What lies ahead for Celtic financially?
The club anticipates revenue and profits for the second half ending June 30, 2026, to be substantially below the first half, with full-year profits also lower, per the interim report. Despite the challenges, Celtic maintains a robust cash position to support ongoing operations.
This financial snapshot underscores the high stakes of European competition qualification for clubs like Celtic.
