---
title: "Celtic: Alan Hutton admits surprise at Hoops’ decision to let Jozo Simunovic leave"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-alan-hutton-surprised-jozo-simunovic-released/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Features"
published: "2020-06-03T16:00:14Z"
modified: "2020-06-03T16:00:14Z"
---

# Celtic: Alan Hutton admits surprise at Hoops’ decision to let Jozo Simunovic leave

**Former Scotland full-back Alan Hutton is the latest pundit to express their shock at the latest contract news at Celtic which saw [25-year-old](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jozo-simunovic/profil/spieler/131327) Jozo Simunovic leave the club on the weekend, per [BBC Sport Scotland](https://twitter.com/BBCSportScot/status/1266817152855801856?s=20).**

The centre-back was free to leave after the Hoops did not extend his contract and it is unknown where the [five-time Premiership winner](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jozo-simunovic/profil/spieler/131327), will end up. He wasn’t the only departure this week as versatile midfielder Jonny Hayes also [left](https://twitter.com/BBCSportScot/status/1266817152855801856?s=20) the club.

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Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-alan-hutton-left-stunned-by-official-celtic-update/) about the defender’s departure, Hutton said*, “I thought he’d been one of the main defenders throughout the years, he’s obviously been part of the treble-winning teams and he’s lifted a lot of trophies so it was a bit of a shock, I must admit.*

*“Whether he’ll go somewhere, somewhere bigger, I’m not sure if he’s got any interest, but I thought Celtic would tie him down. He seemed to be a key part over the past few years since he came in.*

*“It’s a shame but it’s football, it happens.”*

It’s hard to disagree with Hutton here. Simunovic won [11 trophies](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jozo-simunovic/erfolge/spieler/131327) during his time at the club and featured 126 times for the Hoops since arriving for £6.75m in 2015, per [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jozo-simunovic/transfers/spieler/131327).

He had been a [regular presence in the first XI](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jozo-simunovic/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/131327/verein/371) earlier in his Celtic career and, at only 25, perhaps he is just entering his prime years as a footballer, so it does seem like a strange move to not extend his contract and save money instead of having to look into the transfer market for a replacement.

It will be interesting to see how the Hoops act now in the transfer window after letting him go but they will definitely need to identify a replacement to keep their squad as strong as it has been over recent seasons.

***Hoops fans, were you happy that the club let Simunovic go? Comment below with your views!***