Celtic midfielder Odin Thiago Holm has spoken candidly about his disappointing time at Parkhead, describing the experience as “joyless” as he returns to his native Norway on loan.
The 23-year-old, who legally changed his middle name to Thiago in honour of childhood idol Thiago Alcantara in 2017, joined Celtic from Valerenga in a £2.6 million deal under Brendan Rodgers during the summer of 2023. However, he has managed just 16 appearances and one goal during his Glasgow tenure.
Holm’s difficulties extended beyond the pitch. A loan spell with LAFC in January 2025 produced only five appearances before a serious leg injury struck. Last October, he revealed the severity of the muscle problem had left him feeling “half paralysed.”
Now back with Valerenga for the remainder of the calendar year, the former Norway youth international has reflected on the challenges he faced in Scotland. Speaking on the VG podcast, he explained how the combination of limited playing time and personal isolation affected him.
“I’ve missed being here. I’ve been really looking forward to coming back. It’s been tough. Glasgow is a tough city. When you don’t have a social network and you end up in a situation where you’re not playing football, it’s hard to find many sources of joy. There wasn’t much joy in football, and that’s natural when you don’t play.”
Holm’s priority now is rediscovering his passion for the game. “My first priority is to enjoy football again. It was really good to get a session here again. The body feels good.”
The midfielder represents another example of Celtic’s mixed success in the transfer market, with his significant investment yielding minimal return due to injury and integration difficulties. His loan departure opens space in the squad as the club navigates a crucial stage of the season.