Celtic have identified Schalke 04 midfielder Soufiane El-Faouzi as a top transfer target for the summer window. Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke broke the story, confirming the Hoops have already made initial contact. The 23-year-old is coming off a brilliant 2025-26 campaign where he started every single league match, chipping in with two goals and five assists as Schalke clinched the 2. Bundesliga title and moved back up to the top flight.
Celtic Target Schalke’s El-Faouzi for Summer Transfer
Sky Germany first reported Celtic’s approach, noting that the club are currently asking around to see where the player stands. However, O’Rourke warned on the Transfer Insider podcast that signing El-Faouzi will be a tough task. Schalke have slapped a £10 million price tag on the midfielder, who is tied down until 2029.
Schalke are keen to keep him for their Bundesliga return, and no formal talks have happened with other clubs yet. To make matters tougher, Brentford, Bologna, and Sunderland are also in the hunt, making it a crowded race for his signature. Meanwhile, Celtic are dealing with their own internal drama as they still haven’t found a permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers, with Martin O’Neill currently filling in as caretaker.
“It will be very hard for Celtic to try and prise away at El-Faouzi right now. He’s just won promotion back to the Bundesliga with Schalke and was a key man for them in that as well, with two goals and five assists for the midfielder.
“Schalke’s valuation could be prohibitive for Celtic as well; they’re looking in excess of £10 million for the midfielder, who is under contract until 2029. Schalke are keen to keep hold of El-Faouzi as they prepare for life back in the Bundesliga, and they’ve put that price tag up to scare off any interested clubs. That would make any move to Celtic very difficult for them to do, not just because of the price tag but also because of the competition for his signature.”
Do Celtic genuinely need El-Faouzi, or does the price tag expose a deeper problem with their recruitment strategy?