Celtic set Oliver Abildgaard free after the incoming Hoops star was effectively trapped in Russia.
The Danish midfielder was advised he would have to cough up more than £1million to buy out his own Rubin Kazan contract. His plight in Russia even prompted Denmark's minister of sports and culture to step in on his behalf earlier this year.
Abildgaard is poised to become Celtic 's third signing from Kazan following the acquisitions of Sead Haksabanovic last week and Carl Starfelt last year. Denmark international Abildgaard made a surprise move from AaB two years initially on loan, before Rubin Kazan made the move permanent and his contract was until 2024. But with Russian clubs exiled from European competitions, that led to a mass exodus of foreign-based players in the country desperate to return. However, unlike in other sports, footballers can't break their contracts unless they pay compensation after a FIFA ruling and it would have cost Abildgaard north of £1 million to get out of his deal.
