Celtic flop Albian Ajeti is returning to Parkhead after Sturm Graz confirmed they have turned down the chance to sign him permanently after a disappointing loan spell.

The Swiss international moved on the last day of the summer transfer window with the Austrian side securing him on a season-long loan with an option to buy him on a long-term deal.

But he's now back in his Swiss homeland receiving treatment for a calf injury and won't play again for the Austrian Bundesliga runners-up after they opted not to buy him.

Ajeti cost Celtic £5 million in 2020 from West Ham, but he only managed to score eight league goals in two seasons and had no future under Ange Postecoglou.

But the 26-year-old will still have a year left on his contract when he returns to Scotland in the summer.

He hasn't played for over a month and scored just one league goal in Austria since October and Sturm Graz admitted his injury problems have cost him a move.

Sturm Graz sports director Andreas Schicker said: "The option to buy Albian Ajeti will not be exercised.

"Albi did quite well this season and it was important that we had the option to buy. But we were aware that everything had to fit

"Unfortunately, he didn't get into the right rhythm to remain injury-free for several weeks in a row

"You could see his quality in individual games. In the end, however, we decided that we would not take his purchase option."