Lech Poznan sporting director Tomasz Rzasa has explained why their decision to sign Luis Palma permanently was beyond Celtic's control.
The Honduran winger, 26, completed a long-term switch to the Polish champions on Wednesday.
Palma spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Poznan, scoring 12 goals and assisting eight.
The club had an option to buy the attacker, which meant, according to Rzasa, his Parkhead exit was out of Celtic's hands.
"The loan agreement with Celtic FC included an option to buy, so the decision was entirely in our hands from the outset," Rzasa told club media.
"We are pleased to confirm that on Wednesday, June 3rd, we exercised the clause and Luis Palma will be a part of our squad until June 30th, 2029.
"Naturally, we cannot disclose the exact figures involved, but I can confirm that this is the highest transfer fee in the club’s history."
Read more:
Poznan will enter Champions League qualifying for 2026/27 at the second round.
Palma, who helped his team win the Polish top-flight title, has experience in Europe's premier club competition, scoring against Atletico Madrid and Feyenoord for Celtic in 2023.
"It was impossible to overlook Luis' performances," Rzasa added.
"He settled into the team very quickly and consistently delivered quality on the pitch, a fact that was reflected in his statistics.
"We remained calm throughout the speculation surrounding his future because we knew we held all the cards. After reviewing the season, we decided to make the move permanent.
"We hope Luis' excellent form continues and that he helps us from the very start of the new campaign, especially in the upcoming UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
"We are working hard to ensure we have the strongest possible squad in place ahead of the pre-season."
