Yang Hyun-jun's Impact on Celtic: A Decisive Goal and Upcoming Challenges

PAISLEY – Under the grey Paisley sky at The Marbill Coaches Stadium, Yang Hyun‑jun didn’t just win a match. He underlined how far he has come – and how big a hole he is about to leave behind.

With the game locked at 1-1 in the Scottish Premiership clash between St Mirren and Celtic on 5 September 2026, the South Korean winger struck in the 68th minute, sweeping home after a terrific piece of work from the equally impressive Camilo Duran. One touch, one finish, 2-1 Celtic.

The away end exploded. Yang sprinted away in celebration, team-mates flooding towards him, Liam Scales among the first to grab him as the significance of the goal hit home. It was a sharp, clinical moment that matched his performance throughout the afternoon against the Paisley Buddies.

For Yang, 24, it felt like the perfect send-off.

A star takes flight at the wrong time for Celtic

This was his last outing before he joins up with the South Korea squad for the Asian Games. He now misses Wednesday night’s trip to Perth to face St Johnstone, both Glasgow Derby meetings with Rangers, and Celtic’s Europa League opener against Hungarian runners-up Ferencvaros.

For Martin O’Neill, that’s a serious headache. Yang has grown into one of his key attacking weapons, a player the manager now leans on when the game tightens and someone has to make a difference.

Just a year ago, few would have blinked if Yang had dropped out of the starting XI. Now his absence is being spoken about as a major blow for both manager and support. That shift says everything about his development under the veteran Irishman.

Left side locked down

Yang looks increasingly at home on the left flank. He hugs the touchline when needed, drives inside when the space opens up, and, crucially, he has started to deliver in front of goal. His strike against St Mirren was his second in as many games, following his finish against Aberdeen at Celtic Park the previous Wednesday night.

On the opposite side, Haissem Hassan has begun to settle too, looking equally comfortable on the right. The Egyptian international is still waiting for the numbers to match the promise – the final ball, the goals, the assists – but the raw ingredients are there. Celtic expect that end product to arrive soon enough.

Yang is already there. It’s not just the trickery on the wing that catches the eye; it’s his timing, his composure, his growing sense of responsibility in big moments. Against St Mirren, when Celtic needed someone to tilt the contest, he did exactly that.

From £3m nearly-man to £25m talking point

It is remarkable to think that around this time last year, Yang was on the brink of leaving. A £3m move to Birmingham City was close, only collapsing amid the wider failings of Celtic’s troubled summer 2025 transfer window.

That aborted deal has turned into a sliding-doors moment. Instead of disappearing into the English Championship, Yang stayed, fought, and forced his way into becoming a first-team asset Celtic can hardly do without.

Under O’Neill, his game has sharpened. His decision-making is cleaner, his confidence obvious. The transformation is such that talk of him becoming a £25m-plus transfer next summer no longer sounds fanciful. If this trajectory continues, there will be no shortage of suitors.

A crucial stretch without a rising star

All of that makes the timing of his international call-up even more awkward for Celtic. St Johnstone away, a Glasgow Derby double header with Rangers, and a home tie with Ferencvaros to kick off a Europa League campaign – these are fixtures where match-winners matter.

Yang has become exactly that. His blend of direct running and end product will be sorely missed over the coming weeks, and Celtic will have to find another source of spark on that left flank.

For now, though, his last act before heading east is etched in Celtic minds: a decisive goal in Paisley, a roar of celebration, and the image of a player who was almost sold for £3m now playing like a man destined for something far bigger.

Enjoy him while he’s still here. How long can Celtic keep him?