Scotland defender Jack Hendry has officially left Celtic to join Belgian club Ostend on a permanent transfer following a successful loan spell last season that rejuvenated his career.
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Ostend unleashed a first-time deal worth just under £ 2m and will now profit from the deal as they look to sell the 26-year-old – whose form last season saw him become a player of interest to several Premier League sides – to the highest bidder this summer. .
Hendry had joined Celtic from Dundee in January 2018 on a long-term contract in what was a record deal for the sales club. But the midfielder failed to establish himself at Parkhead and made only 15 league appearances in 18 months before going on loan to Australia.
His loan spell at Melbourne City was then shortly after just two games due to a knee injury that required surgery, with Hendry continuing with Ostend on a season-long loan in July 2020.
Jack Hendry has joined @kvoostende on a permanent basis.
We wish @ Jack_Hendry2 all the best for his future career. ? pic.twitter.com/srobNlwjKu
– Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 26, 2021
His time in Belgium has started a stable career. 90 minutes already revealed in January that the Premier League trio Aston Villa, Wolves and Brighton had all asked about Hendry’s availability, while there was also interest from Bournemouth, Werder Bremen, Freiburg, Brondby, AZ and Genk.
Later that month, Burnley failed in an attempt to take the player to Turf Moor. Celtic were open for business but Ostend were not prepared to shorten the loan or give up their first refusal to buy. This clause has actually cost Celtic the chance to make money on Hendry.
90 minutes has been an important source for Hendry’s situation and revealed almost four weeks ago that he had committed to make his Ostend transfer permanent. Given his added value at the back of performances that saw him named Scotland’s Euro 2020 group, the Belgian side jumped at the chance to trigger their alternative at a fixed price of just under £ 2 million.
Ostend will look to sell Hendry this summer for a significant profit / BSR Agency / Getty Images
Since January, there has been further interest in Hendry from Leicester, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Newcastle, and Ostend have agreed to immediately resell the player and feel they may be able to convince a Premier League club to share up to £ 10m. pounds.
As other interest remains from Germany, the Netherlands and major clubs in Belgium, most freers are willing to meet that valuation, which would result in a handsome £ 8m profit in Ostend’s accounts and reduce Celtic out of the picture altogether.
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