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Former Celtic and Sheffield United player completes summer transfer as he heads for Sunderland exit Ex Hoops man has completed European switch Former Celtic defender Leo Hjelde has completed his transfer from Sunderland to Belgian Pro League side KV Mechelen for an undisclosed fee. The 22-year old former Norway Under-21 international joined EFL Championship side Sheffield United midway through last season after his minutes on the pitch at the Stadium of Light decreased. Now only months after returning to his parent club, he’s been signed permanently by Mechelen on a three-year deal, with the option of a further year. Centre back Hjelde signed his first professional contract with Celtic at the age of 15 in 2019 and was shortly after loaned out to Ross County. The promising youngster was then snapped up by Leeds United the following season before he was able to make a first-team Hoops appearance. After spending three years at Elland Road, he moved to Sunderland in 2024. Sunderland wave goodbye to former Hoops prospect A Black Cats statement read: “Sunderland AFC can confirm Leo Hjelde has joined KV Mechelen. The 22-year-old defender has completed a permanent transfer to the Belgian side. Leo joined Sunderland in January 2024 and went on to make 30 appearances during his time at the club, including 17 league outings in the 2024/25 Championship promotion-winning season. Last season, he spent time on loan at Sheffield United, making eight appearances for the Blades. Everyone at Sunderland AFC wishes Leo all the best for his move to Belgium.” Mechelen Sporting Director Tom Caluwé added: “Hjelde is our first defensive signing of this summer transfer window. I am convinced that Leo possesses the qualities to be an asset to our team. Despite his young age, he already has a lot of experience. Our work is not finished yet. We are working on several concrete deals to further strengthen the squad.” O’Neill on signing Hassan Celtic have been doing some business of their own in the last 24 hours, as they’ve confirmed the signing of Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan from Real Oveido for £9m. Manager Martin O’Neill is excited about the new addition after lengthy negotiations. He told Celtic TV: “We were hoping that we’d be able to do something. Oviedo, obviously, at the bottom end of the league, were unwilling to let anybody go at that stage. Totally understandable. So, it wasn’t as if to say it was just like an afterthought for us in the last couple of weeks. Far from it. “We have been chasing him, a number of players, in that sort of position that we feel as if they will add something to us. And he very, very much fitted the bill. When he gets to see the surrounds here, I just think he’ll glow. I think he will. People start to think about the number of things that players can’t do and I think you have to stay more in the positive of what players can do. Going past players now is a sort of a dying art, which is really almost unforgivable in football. That’s what fans get excited about. And actually, to tell you the truth, so do fellow players.”