Odsonne Edouard finds himself at a crossroads, as his future looks uncertain at both Leicester City and parent club Crystal Palace.
The French striker’s move to the Premier League was once seen as a natural step after four stellar years at Celtic, where he lit up Scottish football and built a reputation as a prolific frontman. His decision to triple his wages in England seemed justified at the time, but his career south of the border hasn’t quite taken off as hoped.
While questions remain over the money spent on the likes of Arne Engels and Adam Idah, there’s no doubting Edouard justified Celtic’s £9m outlay. Arriving permanently from PSG in 2018 after a fruitful loan, “French Eddy” scored close to 100 goals and became a firm fan favourite. He regularly tormented Rangers and delivered on European nights, leading Palace to snap him up for £14m in 2021.
Following a turbulent campaign in which Celtic’s 10-in-a-row dream collapsed, some supporters accused Edouard of losing interest, even though he still hit 22 goals. His departure felt timely, particularly with Kyogo Furuhashi quickly stepping in to fill the void and winning over the fans.
Now 27, Edouard’s journey has taken a downturn. Leicester City brought him in on loan last summer, offering a fresh start, but the move has been a disaster. Despite being fit, he hasn’t featured since November 10 and has made just one matchday squad under Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took charge the same month.
Reports suggest Leicester paid £2.5m for the loan and are covering much of his £90,000-a-week wages — a costly commitment for a club trying to stay within financial rules while facing relegation. Palace blocked a January attempt to terminate the loan, leaving Edouard potentially sidelined for the rest of the season.
Van Nistelrooy recently addressed Edouard’s absence, citing minor training issues and intense competition for places, with Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka ahead of him. “He’s competing,” the Dutchman explained. “If he shows he can add more than the others, he’ll get in. That’s the nature of competition.”
A permanent move to Leicester is clearly off the table, and Edouard doesn’t feature in the long-term plans of new Palace boss Oliver Glasner either. With a fresh start likely this summer, a return to Celtic could be on the cards.
Brendan Rodgers, who originally brought Edouard to Glasgow and once called him “one of the best young players I have worked with,” may see him as a potential solution as the club eyes a new striker.
Still under contract at Palace until 2027, any move would be complicated by his wages. Earlier this season, Edouard reportedly turned down a £15m move to MLS side Atlanta United. But he’s kept close ties with Celtic, even attending their Player of the Year event last season and expressing his ongoing support for the club.
“I’m always happy to come back,” he said at the time. “I follow every game like a fan.”
With the likes of Jota, Kieran Tierney and Rodgers all returning to Parkhead in recent years, could Edouard be next to complete a fairytale homecoming?
