Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers didn’t utilise Gustaf Lagerbielke regularly last season, and that convinced the defender to leave Celtic Park last summer.
The Sweden international joined FC Twente on loan in August 2024 and the move has paid off for him. The Celtic man took time to adjust to the new surroundings before cementing his place at the Dutch club.
Lagerbielke has made 22 appearances in all competitions for Twente, who haven’t secured a purchase clause with Celtic.
According to Twente Insite, it is ‘no longer a secret’ that the Eredivisie club want to retain him beyond this season.
They state Twente technical director Arnold Bruggink has expressed interest in the centre-back. The report further adds they made an initial offer, but it was rejected, most likely by Celtic.
Twente need to find an agreement with the 24-year-old, and he is happy with his life in the Netherlands. The outlet has also relayed comments made by the Celtic owned player to Voetbal International.
Lagerbielke compared the Twente and Celtic fans when discussing his future beyond this season.
“I’ll wait and see. Everything is still open. In football it’s not always the player himself who can make decisions. But I’m happy here and the club is great for me. I enjoy playing here, the family feeling, the atmosphere in De Grolsch Veste,” he said.
“Last week the supporters pushed us forward again. In the second half you felt how Bodø/Glimt players became intimidated. The stadium came to a boiling point against Beşiktaş. The noise that night was comparable to the Old Firm at times.”
The Swede’s contract at Celtic Park lasts until 2028 and he’s yet to hear from the Scottish champions about his future.
“From Celtic I don’t hear that much, they probably have other things on their minds. So do I. I’m concentrating on Twente,” Lagerbielke explained.
The Celtic owned player dreams of representing Sweden at the 2026 World Cup and needs to feature regularly at a club level to try and fulfil it.
“A big goal for me is to play the World Cup next year with Sweden. I was in the selection last time, but the competition is huge. If I keep playing well here, I’ll also get my chances in the national team. I choose my route very consciously,” he added.
“You get wiser from every transfer. I think I’ve lived in six cities in the last six years. You learn a lot from that too, living in different places. That is also a motivation for me as a professional footballer: I want to discover new environments, see something of the world, get to know other cultures. Enschede suits me fine. Everything works, the people are open and friendly. They speak English well.”
