On transfer deadline day, the forward came to Celtic on loan from Norwich City, an English Championship team.
Adam Idah’s loan move to Celtic on deadline day was necessary, according to Norwich City manager David Wagner, who insisted that it made “no sense” to keep him at Carrow Road.
The Republic of Ireland international joined the Canaries’ youth system and has played more than 100 games in the first team for the English Championship team. The 22-year-old striker, who has struggled for consistency this season, decided to spend the rest of the season on loan at Parkhead in the last hour of the January transfer window.
In Saturday’s 1-1 Scottish Premiership tie with Aberdeen at Pittodrie, Idah made his Hoops debut. During his impressive 30-minute cameo, he showed wonderful control to set up fellow new signing Nicolas Kuhn’s equalizer.
Due to the terms of their agreement, Celtic will not have the option to purchase the player in the summer. However, with key players still competing in the Asian Cup and talisman Kyogo Furuhashi struggling this season, there’s a good chance the Cork-born frontman will play from the start against Hibernian at Easter Road on Wednesday.
Idah made it obvious he wanted to leave the team temporarily, according to Norwich manager Wagner, and he also said the transaction was approved when Bologna forward Sydney van Hooijdonk, a previous Celtic target, signed a contract.
Though Wagner said: “We have to say after Adam made his point clear that he likes to go on loan, for me what was clear is that when we can find an alternative it makes no sense to keep someone who is desperate to go on loan. It remains to be seen whether Idah still has a long-term future at Norwich.”
“I really like Adam’s choice and his reasoning. We need a group that is fully devoted, and I backed this at the perfect time since our goals and ambitions are too high. The opportunity to potentially acquire Sydney (van Hooijdonk) on loan with the option to purchase also presented itself somewhat late, so it was the ideal situation.
“Adam made his argument. And for that reason, I supported this choice. Even if he had chosen to stick around and compete for his place, I would have accepted that. Players must have the correct mindset in order for me to want them to be driven to come here and strive for our best goal. We also know which group we are in together now.To be fair, it is not the largest by any means. I suggested that we form a close-knit group where everyone is driven to work hard and push themselves every day, and where each person can sense that they have a chance to be the starting shirt. And see to it that we maintain the maximum degree of competition.”