Contact established as Celtic explore deal for former Fulham forward

Celtic have reportedly made initial contact over a potential move for Scotland international striker Kieron Bowie, just six months after his £6 million transfer to Italian side Hellas Verona.

With the summer transfer window now underway, Celtic are expected to strengthen several key areas as Martin O’Neill begins preparations for another Scottish Premiership title challenge.

A new striker could be among the priorities, and reports emerging from Italy suggest the Hoops have identified Bowie as a possible target following his difficult spell in Serie A.

The 23-year-old only joined Hellas Verona in January after impressing at Hibernian, but he was unable to help the club avoid relegation from Italy’s top flight. Despite the disappointing campaign, Bowie still managed four goals in 14 appearances after making a strong impression during the first half of the season at Easter Road.

His performances for Hibs earned him a first senior Scotland call-up, with the striker winning two international caps so far.

Although he missed out on Steve Clarke’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, a return to Scottish football with Celtic could potentially revive his international ambitions.

Bowie’s rise has been rapid in recent years. Hibs signed him from Fulham in 2024 for a fee believed to be around £600,000 before selling him to Verona for approximately £6 million after an impressive spell in Edinburgh.

Before that, the forward developed during loan stints at Northampton Town, helping the English side earn promotion to League One while scoring consistently across two seasons.

Originally signed by Fulham from Raith Rovers in 2020, Bowie had first caught attention in Scotland after scoring regularly for his hometown club as a teenager.

He also gained European experience at Hibs, including a memorable strike against FK Partizan in Europa Conference League qualifying, while progressing through Scotland’s youth ranks before stepping into the senior setup.

For Celtic, a move could represent an opportunity to bring a promising Scotland international back to the SPFL only months after leaving for Italy, though it remains to be seen whether Verona would be willing to sanction a quick exit.