Michel-Ange Balikwisha seeks revival at AA Gent after Scottish flop

Michel-Ange Balikwisha, 25, arrives at AA Gent on a season‑long loan after a €5.2 million move to Celtic that left him labelled a flop. The Congolese striker, who logged just 135 minutes in Scotland, is tasked with becoming the club’s x‑factor as he tries to revive his career.

Celtic paid Antwerp €5.2 million in mid‑2025 for the 25‑year‑old, signing him to a contract that runs to 2030. The move was orchestrated by then‑manager Brendan Rodgers, who praised Balikwisha’s potential and expected him to become a key creator. Balikwisha made two starts, against Rangers and Kilmarnock, before being relegated to the bench in Glasgow.

Flop label in Scotland

Rodgers admitted early October that playing for Celtic was not easy, noting the huge expectations the club placed on newcomers. After a string of defeats Rodgers left Celtic at the end of October, leaving Balikwisha without his chief advocate. Successor Martin O’Neill kept him on the sidelines, and the striker amassed only 135 minutes of league action.

In March, O’Neill told the Scottish Sun that he felt “a bit of pity for him” and that Balikwisha “did not get a fair chance” under his guidance, believing other players were better suited. Jordi De Koninck of Sport relayed O’Neill’s remarks to the newspaper. The midfielder’s frustration grew, and in mid‑January he erased all Celtic‑related posts from his Instagram account.

Gent’s fresh start for the striker

During the winter break Balikwisha trained alone in his Celtic kit on the pitches of provincial club VC Groot Dilbeek, unaware that AA Gent, based roughly 50 km from Dilbeek, were preparing a season‑long loan. The club’s coach Rik De Mil described the Congolese forward as a potential “game‑changer” and said he wanted to “find happiness in football again”. Balikwisha echoed the sentiment, stating, “I want to find happiness in football again”.

The move brings Balikwisha back to Belgium (België), a league he knows well and where he can visit his parents daily in Asse. He is not surprised by the Gent offer and insists he never closed the door on a return to his home country. The striker hopes to banish the “Scottish demons” that haunted his time at Celtic Park.

Gent’s recruitment this season also includes Christian Burgess, who quickly became indispensable, and Momodou Sonko, whose two‑and‑a‑half‑year spell appears ready for a breakthrough. While Balikwisha aims to become the club’s x‑factor, the added experience of his new teammates could provide the balance needed for a strong campaign.

The contrast between a year of limited opportunities in Glasgow and a fresh chance in Gent highlights how a single loan can reshape a player’s trajectory. If Balikwisha can deliver the promised impact, his revival may erase the memory of the Scottish flop and restore his reputation.