Luis Palma has spoken candidly about his time at Celtic, reflecting on the highs of his debut year and the struggles that followed, which ultimately led to his loan move to Lech Poznan.
The Honduran forward joined the Hoops from Aris Thessaloniki in the 2023 summer transfer window and immediately hit the ground running. His first season in Glasgow saw him score 12 goals and register 13 assists, quickly making him a key player for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Palma’s standout moment came in Europe, where he found the back of the net against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League — a memory he still cherishes as one of the best of his career.
Unfortunately, his momentum was cut short in his second campaign. Injuries disrupted his form and reduced his chances in the starting XI, leaving him on the fringes of the team. That lack of game time forced the winger to look elsewhere, and a loan move to Polish side Lech Poznan was confirmed on deadline day.
Speaking to The Celtic Way, Palma explained:
“My first season at Celtic, that was nice. Everything seemed to go well in that first campaign. I scored 12 goals and had 13 assists. It was a very special season because it was my first year abroad and I enjoyed it a lot.
That goal against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League came when I felt I was at the peak of my career. It was the first goal of my life in the Champions League, and it was very, very special. Scoring it for a club like Celtic, in front of 60,000 supporters, was a dream come true.
The second season is hard for me to talk about because that’s when things started to go sour. I got injuries at Celtic, and it cost me a lot. Despite the setbacks, I always stayed focused. I trained every day and worked hard to be ready if the manager needed me.
I made the difficult decision to leave Celtic because I wanted to go out on loan and play regular first-team football.”
Palma now hopes to reignite his career in Poland, where consistent minutes could help him rediscover his best form. His deal with Lech Poznan does not include an option to buy, meaning he is expected back at Celtic next summer.
Whether he has a future at Parkhead may depend on how well he performs abroad and whether the managerial situation in Glasgow changes before his return.