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Fullname: Maik Nawrocki
aka: –
Born: 7 February 2001
Birthplace: Bremen, Germany
Signed: 26 July 2023 (£4.5m from Legia Warsaw)
Out on Loan: 5 July 2025-31 June 2026 (to Hannover 96)
Left: 17 July 2026 (est €2.5m/£2.1m to Lens (France))
Position: Centre-half, defender
Debut: Celtic 4-2 Ross County, SP, 5 Aug 2023
Squad No.: 17
Internationals: […]
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
Nawrocki arrived at Celtic as another young prospect, helping to fill in for the centre-half role vacancies. Prior to Celtic he had been a propsect at his hometown team of Werder Breman, and then moved to become a regular at Legia Warsaw.
He was thrown into the deep end at Celtic when in only his second match he had to manage the central defence as Starfelt had just moved on and CCV went off injured during the match, and he was a rock as Celtic won 4-1 v Aberdeen away. So he was already respected by the general support.
However, after only two games, he was out long-term with an injury. Yet once back from injury, he was sidelined. Partly this was due to the surprise form of the previously dismissed Liam Scales, but there were concerns that off-field there were issues between Rodgers against the scouting staff and certain players. As Celtic both seemed to progress and falter, it didn’t help when a frustrated Rodgers publicly stated his frustrations at the efforts of certain players:
“Nawrocki & Lagerbielke need to show why they should be in squads in training, Tilio similar situation – all fit- ‘Competition can be the best coach’”
Rodgers (Dec 2023)
It became a repeatedly asked question simply of where Nawrocki was when he should have been in the squad? In total he only played 13 times in the entire season for Celtic, despite having been a marquis signing.
From his appearances, as a defender he clearly wasn’t in the same bracket as Carter-Vickers, but Celtic needed more proficient defenders. The defence was clearly not up to task much of the season whenever Carter-Vickers was out. A competent central defender like Nawrocki was required. He could fairly argue that Celtic only lost in a single game he had played in that season, albeit that the only major opposition he played against was TheRangers at home in a 2-1 league win for Celtic in December 2023.
With Auston Trusty brought into Celtic, there was greater competition but there was room for rotation in a crowded fixture list. Yet, Nawrocki was injured after just 15mins of the first pre season match (v Ayr July 2024), and everyone just shook their heads. Confidence in him had evaporated. Even Stephen Welsh was preferred to Nawrocki when opportunities arose.
Written out through the season, he never got a chance it seemed to prove any doubters wrong.
However, he returned late on in the season when injuries forced the manager’s hand and played v Sevco in a 3-2 defeat at Celtic Park in a very frustrating game, but incredibly Nawrocki came out of it as one of the few Celtic players to received positive feedback from all, with some stating maybe he should be ahead of others. The manager notably commented very highly of his contribution in what was otherwise a dire afternoon, however as noted by one online commentator, Nawrocki did show a lack of pace which was concerning.
He scored his debut goal in a 5-1 win v Aberdeen in the final run-in matches of the league title winning season (May 2025), which was a moment of praise he deserved.
The truth is that, as season 2024/25 went on and there was an increasingly vocal number questioning both Scales & Trusty for the partnership role alongside Carter-Vickers, it was clear that this was also the view of the management team. Many questioned why Nawrocki wasn’t being given more opportunities, and especially questionned Brendan Rodgers management of the player.
He was unsurprisingly swiftly sent out on loan for season 2025/26 to second tier Hannover 96 in the German leagues. He seemed to have little luck, as Hannover sports director Jorg Schmadtke was sacked just 24 hours after confirming that the club wanted to turn their loan deal for Nawrocki into a permanent £2m transfer if they got promoted to the Bundesliga. They didn’t win the promotion in any case.
On his return, he ended his time at Celtic by signing for French Ligue 1 runners-up Lens, for an estimated €2.5m. As Martin O’Neill had become newly installed as the permanent manager at Celtic, Nawrocki was deemed by some commentators to be one that fitted his mould and so could be given a second life at Celtic, but not to be. He seemed to have a slight dig at the club management in his leaving message which can be interpreted in various ways:
“At the same time, there were moments and decisions that I would have preferred to be handled differently, both on and off the pitch”.
Regardless, we wished him the best.
Post-Celtic
Just weeks after leaving Celtic to join Racing Club de Lens, Maik Nawrocki was to be ruled out for lengthy spell after suffering from a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. He just seemed to be cursed.
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Quotes
“I feel very very good. I think I will fit in here.”
Nawrocki (July 2023)
“Celtic are a famous club throughout the world and, of course, they’re very well-known in Poland, having had a number of Polish players in recent years, so I know just how big this club is and how incredible the supporters are.”
Maik Nawrocki (July 2023)
“Dear Celts,
“Unfortunately, my time at the club has come to an end.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this huge club. To work every day in such a special environment like Celtic, to experience the atmosphere at Celtic Park week by week and to represent this club in one of the biggest derbies in the world is something I will always be thankful for.
“At the same time, there were moments and decisions that I would have preferred to be handled differently, both on and off the pitch. Nevertheless, I always gave everything I had and tried to help the team whenever I had the chance.
“A big thank you to all the fans, my teammates and the staff members. I always felt loved and respected by all of you and I will always be grateful for that. I wish everyone at the club all the best and every success in the future.”
Nawrocki departing msg (July 2023)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2023-24 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-26 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Goals | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
Scottish Cup
Scottish League Cup
Pictures
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Articles
Nawrocki wants silverware with Celtic after ‘fairytale’ Legia swansong
Published
40 minutes ago
Maik Nawrocki has declared himself ready to embrace the pressure at Celtic after delivering two trophies in a “fairytale” ending to his Legia Warsaw career.
The German-born Under-21 international clinched Polish Cup glory with the winning penalty in a shootout victory Rakow Czestochowa in May.
And he repeated the feat with this last kick for Legia earlier this month as they beat the same opposition on penalties to win the Polish Super Cup.
Nawrocki, who has signed a five-year deal to join Celtic, said: “I came from Legia, the biggest club in Poland, so I had pressure there.
“But it’s not pressure for me, it’s more like excitement to be at the biggest club in the country and have the pressure to win.
“It’s similar here, maybe bigger here because of the Champions League.
“Everybody wants to win titles. Legia was like a fairytale, the last kick of the ball was to win the Super Cup. So I am looking forward to getting some silverware here.”
The 22-year-old, speaking on his first visit to Celtic Park, was “shocked” by the magnitude of the 60,000-seater stadium but can’t wait to experience it full after Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos praise the “insane” atmosphere last season.
“It’s amazing,” said Nawrocki. “I saw the famous quote from Toni Kroos when he said it’s the loudest place he has been.
“The nights here at Celtic Park in the Champions League will be amazing, some big games, but also the league as well.
“Two or three weeks ago my agent called me and said Celtic were interested. From then I wanted to come here too. Everybody knows Celtic, they have the Champions League and everything.”
Maik Nawrocki opens up on Celtic move: stadium shock, Toni Kroos quote, why he’s the quiet man
By his own admission, Maik Nawrocki doesn’t say much. But the Polish internationalist showed an impressive adroitness for ticking all the right boxes as he was officially presented at Celtic Park on Wednesday following the defender’s switch from Legia Warsaw on a five-year contract.
By Alison McConnell
Published 26th Jul 2023, 22:30 BST
Updated 26th Jul 2023, 22:45 BST
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/maik-nawrocki-opens-up-on-celtic-move-stadium-shock-toni-kroos-quote-why-hes-the-quiet-man-4233423
“We have the best team in the league so we can win every trophy again,” said the German-born 22-year-old. If football is the universal language in a multicultural dressing room, the desire to stay top dog is the kind of talk that will endear Celtic’s latest recruit to fans and team-mates alike.
A shy kid who used football to express himself growing up, Nawrocki met his polar opposite in Artur Boruc, the Celtic goalkeeper, whom he shared a dressing room with briefly in Legia. The veteran stopper has lost none of his colour with age.
“He was a different character,” said Nawrocki with a smile. “Artur was a legend in Poland and here at Celtic. I played one year with him. He wasn’t only a good footballer but an amazing character. I was very happy and sometimes he’d tell stories about himself. He spoke a lot about Celtic but he was 20 years older than me so we didn’t speak a lot but we always had a good relationship on the pitch.
“I was a quiet person off the pitch but on the pitch I wanted to show everything and not speak off it. I came to Legia, I was alone so I think I grew as a man too. Legia was the perfect step to prepare me for a club like this. It’s a good team with a mix of young players and experienced players. I can grow here. I’m here to make my big step and help the club to achieve their goals.”
The intensity of Celtic is not likely to phase Nawrocki given what he has left in Poland. Similarly, the physicality of the Scottish league is not something he expects to come as a culture shock. “The Polish league is also more fighting than playing so I’m kind of used to it!” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the league because I don’t know it so well. In Poland, away games are also very loud because of the fans. Even against Legia there are sometimes 20 – 25,000 people so I’m used to it. When you go on the pitch you don’t see this you just play your game. Every second game they have to stop the play for five minutes because of pyrotechnics and things.”
He and Brendan Rodgers share a recent history with Nawrocki scoring the only goal against Leicester in the Europa League group stages when the teams met in Poland. “I think for Legia it was one of the biggest games in their history, we won 1-0 at the full stadium,” he recalled. “It was the loudest I’ve ever been in. We remember that night very well. He [Brendan] is well known in Great Britain. I talked with him a lot yesterday and he talked very well with me.”
For now, though, there is only the optimism of what lies ahead. “When I got the call Celtic wanted me there was no second option. Honestly,” he said. “I was shocked at how big the stadium is. There’s a famous quote from Toni Kroos when he said it was the loudest place he’d ever played. I remember this.”
Rodgers praise for player he’s strangely never really rated
By Conor Spence 18 March, 2025 No Comments
Maik Nawrocki
Mohamed Diomande of Rangers and Maik Nawrocki and Luke McCowan of Celtic during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park, 16 March 2025. O’Rourke Shutterstock
https://thecelticstar.com/rodgers-praise-for-player-hes-strangely-never-really-rated/Despite Celtic’s 3-2 home defeat to theRangers, Brendan Rodgers commended Maik Nawrocki for his impressive performance…
Maik Nawrocki
Cyriel Dessers fouls Maik Nawrocki during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park, Celtic v theRangers, 16 March 2025. Photo O’Rourke Shutterstock
Having faced limited game time due to injuries and squad competition since his arrival from Legia Warsaw in the summer of 2023, Nawrocki was thrust into Sunday’s high-pressure showdown.
Amid the difficult circumstances and collectively abysmal first half, Rodgers admired the 24-year-old’s performance and his endurance throughout the full 90 minutes.
Nawrocki one of the few Celtic highlights on Sunday
“I thought he done really well,” the Celtic manager said. “I said that to him afterwards in the changing room. There weren’t too many highlights for us. But certainly, for him, for a guy that’s not played virtually for a year, it shows you how well he’s trained and how professional he’s been. So, I thought he done really, really well to last the game”
Having featured only twice as a substitute this season, Nawrocki made his Scottish Premiership debut in the encounter. Injuries ruled out both Auston Trusty and Liam Scales for Celtic.
Maik Nawrocki
Maik Nawrocki moves in as Cyriel Dessers battles for the ball with Cameron Carter-Vickers during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park, Celtic v theRangers, 16 March 2025. Photo O Rourke/Shutterstock
Nawrocki was only one of a select few who earned pass-marks during Sunday’s display. The centre-back was Celtic’s most competent defender as unfortunately he was surrounded by Schlupp, Carter-Vickers, Johnston and Schmeichel who made continuous errors and heaped ludicrous pressure on themselves.
Nawrocki deserves a chance
The stand-in defender has possibly edged up the pecking order and between now and the end of the season, Rodgers can rely on Nawrocki should such unavailability of Scales and Trusty occur again. Scales is set to get an operation and that would mean his season is effectively over.