Celtic and Rangers are leading the chase to sign Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku amid fierce competition from across the UK and Europe.
The Scottish giants have monitored the 23-year-old closely, with both clubs now primed to make their move as his contract at London Road expires.
Old Firm Rivals Compete for Poku Signature
Interest in Poku has reached fever pitch, with reports suggesting as many as 26 clubs are tracking the talented wide man. Among them are Birmingham City, Sheffield United and newly-promoted Sunderland, all keen to bolster their attacking options this summer. However, it is understood that the strongest interest lies north of the border.
Both Celtic and Rangers have been long-term admirers, and a switch to either Glasgow club would trigger UEFA-mandated compensation for Peterborough due to the cross-border nature of the transfer. That’s a crucial detail for Posh, whose director of football Barry Fry admitted the club would miss out financially if Poku moved abroad without triggering a domestic tribunal.
“The last time I heard, there were 26 clubs in for him,” Fry told GiveMeSport. “I’m not surprised. The kid has what it takes to reach the Premier League.”
Despite efforts by Birmingham’s director of football Craig Gardner—who reportedly made a Zoom pitch to the player and his representatives—sources suggest that the decisive factor may be the agent’s strong connections in Europe, particularly with figures tied to Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho.
Peterborough Set to Lose One of Their Star Assets
Poku joined Peterborough United in 2021 from Colchester United and has steadily developed into one of League One’s most exciting attacking players. His breakout campaign came in 2024–25, when he won back-to-back League One Player of the Month awards in September and October, tallying seven goal involvements across just six matches.
The Ghanaian international began his professional journey with Colchester after emerging from non-league football via Worthing and Cray Wanderers. He made his EFL debut in 2019 and quickly impressed with his direct running, ball control and end product. In total, he spent four seasons at Peterborough, becoming a fan favourite and a key attacking threat.
His contract expired at the end of the 2024–25 season, and while Peterborough had hoped to secure a fee, the likelihood of a cross-border move means the club may be resigned to limited compensation.
Writer’s View
The fact that both Celtic and Rangers are at the front of the queue speaks volumes about Kwame Poku’s development over the past two seasons. With Champions League or Europa League football on offer and the chance to become a key player at a club with major silverware ambitions, the move makes perfect sense.
While English clubs like Birmingham City may offer a promising project, the pull of playing in Europe and potentially lifting domestic titles could prove too strong to resist. For Peterborough, this is the end of a successful development path, even if the financial return isn’t quite what they had hoped for.
