Celtic posted a £4.8m loss after tax for the year ending June 30, 12 months after making a £33.9m profit. Revenue fell by 22.7% to £111m. Interim chairman Brian Wilson said the year was “more turbulent than anyone would have wished for”, with missing Champions League football and managerial upheaval shaping the accounts.
Wilson’s account of the season
Wilson tied the slump to footballing instability, saying: “The departure of Brendan Rodgers was an unanticipated event which initiated a period of instability. In other circumstances, the appointment of Wilfried Nancy might have worked but his arrival in mid-season and the changes which followed clearly did not.”
He also said: “Parting ways with Wilfried was hugely disappointing but decisive action had to be taken. The return of the great Martin O'Neill, supported by his backroom team as well as a fine squad of players, then proved to be a triumphant success.”
That line fits the football side of the year. Celtic are back in the Europa League this term after the shock capitulation away to LASK in the Champions League play-off, and the club had three different managers during 2025-26. Wilfried Nancy’s league reign lasted eight games.
The numbers behind the loss
The finances were still not a fire sale. Celtic reported £66.4m in cash in the bank and said it spent £31.6m this summer to recruit Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Mika Baur, Haissem Hassan, Joel van den Berg and Jordan Lotomba.
That cushion does not change the fact that the club went from £33.9m profit to a £4.8m loss in one year, while revenue dropped from £143.6m to £111m. The accounts point to a club that kept spending, but paid for a season of disruption and missed European income.
Wilson said communication and supporter engagement remain ongoing priorities, while the search for a permanent chairman continues. The next set of accounts will show whether Celtic have put a cleaner season behind them or are still dealing with the fallout from 2025-26.
FAQ
Why did Celtic report a loss in their latest accounts?
Celtic posted a £4.8m loss after tax for the year ending June 30, after making a £33.9m profit 12 months earlier. Revenue fell by 22.7% to £111m, and Brian Wilson said the year was more turbulent than anyone would have wished for. He also linked Brendan Rodgers’ departure and Wilfried Nancy’s mid-season arrival to instability.
Did Celtic still have money to spend after the loss?
Yes. Celtic reported £66.4m cash in the bank and said it spent £31.6m this summer to recruit Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Mika Baur, Haissem Hassan, Joel van den Berg and Jordan Lotomba. The accounts show a loss, but they also show the club still has a sizeable cushion.
What did Brian Wilson say about Celtic’s season?
Brian Wilson said the year was “more turbulent than anyone would have wished for” and praised the team for “demonstrating extraordinary resilience”. He also said parting ways with Wilfried was hugely disappointing but that decisive action had to be taken, with Martin O'Neill’s return proving to be a triumphant success.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
