Kwon Hyeok-kyu has completed a permanent transfer from Celtic FC to FC Nantes for an estimated fee of £300,000. The South Korean midfielder has signed a three-year contract following a successful medical examination. During his time at Celtic, Kwon failed to make competitive appearances and was loaned to St Mirren and Hibernian. His transfer marks a significant move as Nantes aims to enhance its squad depth and competitiveness within Ligue 1. Further details on his potential impact are available.
In a significant move to enhance their midfield, FC Nantes is reportedly finalizing a permanent transfer of South Korean midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu from Celtic FC. The 24-year-old defensive midfielder is set to sign a three-year contract with Nantes, following a successful medical examination. The transfer fee is estimated at approximately £300,000 as Celtic seeks to reconfigure their squad.
Kwon joined Celtic during the summer transfer window of 2023; however, his tenure was marked by challenges. He did not make any competitive appearances for the team and was subsequently loaned to St Mirren and Hibernian. During his loan at St Mirren, Kwon showed promise, earning positive feedback.
Kwon’s time at Celtic was challenging, with no competitive appearances before productive loan spells at St Mirren and Hibernian.
Despite this, his time at Hibernian garnered mixed reviews, highlighting inconsistency. His inability to establish himself at Celtic indicated a significant gap between initial expectations and actual performance. Kwon’s arrival at Nantes comes after the departures of Douglas Augusto and Pedro Chirivella. Nantes’ strategy includes integrating South Korean talent, as they are also in talks to sign compatriot Hyun-seok Hong on loan.
Nantes is actively working to strengthen their squad amid recent player departures, including Douglas Augusto and Pedro Chirivilla. Kwon represents the fourth confirmed signing for the team in July 2025, joining other recruits such as Youssef El-Arabi and Chidozie Awaziem.
Nantes aims to fortify their midfield, a necessity identified following the recent changes in personnel. The transfer reflects not only Kwon’s potential for growth—given his defensive attributes and previous experience at the international youth level—but also a broader strategy at Nantes to integrate South Korean talent into their ranks.
This approach, coupled with the need to enhance competitiveness in Ligue 1, highlights the significance of Kwon’s transfer for both player and club moving forward.
