Flop keeper Vasilis Barkas has confirmed Celtic have released him from his contract and the Greek shot-stopper thanked the club for handing him a free transfer.

But he ended up costing Celtic a whopping £281,000 per league game.

Celtic have written off the £4.5million transfer fee they splashed out to AEK Athens three years ago and allowed the 29-year-old to rip up his contract to let him to look for another club.

He spent the season on loan at FC Utrecht and was runner-up in their Player of the Season awards. The Dutch club are desperate to land Barkas, but he's admitted he has other options.

Barkas said: "I am really happy about what has happened and I also want to thank Celtic for releasing me from my contract and for what they did for me in the last few years.

"I did my best there. At the end of the day, it was ok.

"Now I have to think about next season.

"I want to thank my fellow players, I want to thank everyone in Utrecht for making me feel welcome.

"I can now start thinking about next season. I have to make choices. It feels like my family here at Utrecht and I don't know if I will find that anywhere else.

"Of course I want to stay, but that is not always easy. My agent will talk to FC Utrecht. But we now have to wait a few days, take a rest and think about it. But whatever happens, Utrecht will always remain my family."

Barkas ended up making just 24 appearances for Celtic including 16 in the league, meaning he cost the Parkhead club an eye-watering £281,250 for each league game...and Celtic won only nine of those Premiership games.