Celtic report £4.8m annual loss as revenue falls 22.7%

Celtic recorded a £4.8m loss after tax for the year ended 30 June 2026, reversing the previous year's £33.9m profit. Revenue fell 22.7% to £111m from £143.6m. BBC Sport reported that the club largely attributed the change to playing outside the Champions League last season.

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The revenue decline was accompanied by higher costs and a smaller profit from player trading. According to Investing.com's account of the results, operating expenses, including labour costs, increased 4.3% to £122.1m. Gains from selling player registrations dropped to £16m, compared with £31.5m in the preceding financial year.

Year-end cash was £66.4m, down from £77.3m, while player acquisition costs totalled £15.6m against £38.6m a year earlier, Investing.com reported. Celtic played 28 home matches during the period and reached the Europa League knockout phase play-off. The club nevertheless finished the campaign with the Premiership title and Scottish Cup.

Spending after the reporting period was also addressed. BBC Sport reported that interim chairman Brian Wilson put this summer's permanent recruitment bill at £31.6m for six players. They included Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran and Jordan Lotomba. Wilson did not disclose the proceeds from departures including Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate.

The results cover a season of managerial upheaval. Brendan Rodgers left, Wilfried Nancy was dismissed after eight games, and Martin O'Neill returned to guide Celtic to their domestic double. In comments reported by the BBC, Wilson credited O'Neill, his staff and the players for their resilience through that disruption.

There was change in the boardroom too, with Peter Lawwell retiring as chairman in December. Wilson said the search for a permanent successor was continuing. He also acknowledged the need for better communication with supporters and said work on engagement remained ongoing, according to the BBC's report of his remarks.

The announcement comes after two successive defeats by Rangers. SPFL records show Celtic lost 3-0 in the League Cup on 13 September and 1-0 at home in the Premiership on 20 September. Celtic still lead the league with 18 points from seven games, two ahead of Rangers.