Celtic plc said qualifying for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League helped it increase revenue by 94.7% to £61.2 million in the six months to December 31 and boost profit before taxation to £18.6 million from £11.7 million in the same period of 2015.

“Within the period reported, we have achieved our key objective of qualification for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League and we have won the League Cup …” said Celtic chairman Ian Bankier.

“We also currently sit 27 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, whilst we continue to progress in the Scottish Cup with the prospect of winning our first domestic treble since 2001 …

“From a financially stable base at the year end, during the summer transfer window we invested £9.5 million (2015: £6.1m) in the playing squad with the acquisition of the registrations of Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele, Kolo Touré, Christian Gamboa and Dorus de Vries. 

“Our profit on disposals of intangible assets of £2.0 million (2015: £12.6 million) largely reflects the transfer of the registration of Stefan Johansen to Fulham. 

“Subsequently, during the January 2017 transfer window, we have invested further by acquiring the registration of Eboue Kouassi.”