Celtic

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Darren O'Dea says Brendan Rodgers played a pivotal role in his decision to leave Celtic to become assistant head coach at Swansea City.

Former Republic of Ireland international O'Dea held the role of player pathway manager with ex-Swans boss Rodgers' side but has now linked up with compatriot Alan Sheehan at the Swansea.com Stadium.

"This club is similar to Celtic in that it has a real identity, it is not just enough to come in here and just win, there needs to be more. There needs to be a product on the pitch that the fans relate to," said O'Dea.

"Speaking to Brendan, who has been brilliant in all this, he talked about the fanbase having a big understanding of their football.

"He could not have spoken more highly of the club and the city, and the DNA of the club.

"That is a real big driver in me wanting to come here, it's really important to me."

Following Luke Williams' exit in February, Swansea collected 24 points from 13 matches at a rate of 1.85 points per game under Sheehan last season, the joint-third highest points tally in the Championship over that period.

And O'Dea says he regularly watched Swansea last term as part of his role with Celtic.

"The guys here did a fantastic job over the final part of last season, I watched a number of games last season while I was at Celtic as it was part of my responsibilities to be monitoring and watching football across Europe," he added.

"I am well versed in what the team looks like, and the players, I am looking forward to getting to know them."

Sweden and Nordsjaelland forward Benjamin Nygren, 23, has chosen to join Celtic over Anderlecht. (Sky Sports), external

Celtic will pay £2m for Benjamin Nygren, who is out of contract at Danish club Nordsjaelland in six months time. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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The SPFL confirmed attendances have risen for a third consecutive season and thanked fans for their "incredible support".

Crowds across all leagues, cups and play-off matches totalled more than 5.3 million, a rise of nearly 185,000 from the 2023-24 season.

"We will be having further meetings with key stakeholders over the summer to review the most recent season and look ahead to 2025-26," the SPFL statement ends.

"We remain committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable matchday experience for players and supporters - they are the lifeblood of our game and deserve nothing less."

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Celtic B team coach Stephen McManus insists "role model" Kieran Tierney's return has "given everyone a real boost".

The 28-year-old officially rejoined Celtic this week on a free transfer, six years after leaving for Arsenal in a £25million deal.

Former captain McManus said: "It's massive because young players want to feel as if they've got somebody that they can look up to. They've got that but they need to see that and they need to feel that for themselves.

"You've got it with Callum (McGregor), you've got it with James (Forrest), so now with KT coming back it gives us an extra top player."

McManus also believes the learnings Tierney made at the Emirates will be of benefit "throughout the club".

"The fact that he's coming back with his full career ahead of him after the experiences he's had down in England at a top club like Arsenal, is going to be invaluable, not just for himself, for the younger players but for everybody throughout the football club.

"Kieran's coming back at the age that he's at, his full career's ahead of him. For the national team, for us as a club, it's tremendous.

"It's given everybody a real boost and for the younger lads it's another role model that we've got to look up to."

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Celtic have been granted permission by Nordsjaelland to speak to 23-year-old Sweden winger Benjamin Nygren. (Sky Sports), external

Asked about being linked with a move to Celtic after helping Ecuador qualify for the World Cup finals, 21-year-old winger Nilson Angulo said he is focused on improving his finishing and playing more matches for Anderlecht next season. (The Herald), external

Celtic-linked 23-year-old winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha has taken to Instagram, posting a photo of himself at Nice Airport in a hint that he could be leaving Royal Antwerp. (The National), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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Celtic B head coach Stephen McManus' insists the team are "in a great place" but admits it's "difficult" for youngsters to break into high-quality squad.

The Glasgow club have just welcomed back one of their most successful academy graduates in Kieran Tierney, who rejoins fellow success stories James Forrest and Callum McGregor.

In the season gone by, Brendan Rodgers handed first-team debuts to Francis Turley, Jude Bonnar and Sean McArdle and McManus is confident the next batch coming through can continue that trend.

"For us as a club, at B team level, it's great," the former defender said at a media conference previewing Celtic's pre-season friendly with Newcastle.

"For the job that we do, the most important thing is trying to get players into the first team. We know how difficult it is.

"Celtic supporters love nothing better than seeing one of their own coming through, and our job as the coaches at B team level is to try and produce young players that are capable of playing in the first team.

"We know how hard the job is because of how strong our first team squad is, but when you see guys like Kieran coming back when you've still got Callum and James, it helps.

"My personal belief is you need people that have been through the club, that have seen the full journey because it's a special club to be a part of.

"So, all we do is try and help the next batch that can hopefully come through."

Celtic are expected to rekindle interest in 18-year-old Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller and have also been keeping tabs on Hearts left-back James Penrice. (Daily Record), external

Celtic are interested in Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig, with the 23-year-old former Hibs player having made his Scotland debut against Liechtenstein on Monday. (talkSPORT), external

Sweden winger Benjamin Nygren is a possible target for Celtic as the 23-year-old enters the last six months of his contract at Nordsjaelland. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

We asked you for your views on Kieran Tierney's return to Celtic on a five-year deal.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ray: It's worth the risk as strength, experience and leadership are badly needed at the back with Celtic.

KT will not only play at left back, he will be left-sided central defender and push forward frequently as a wing-half, firing in good crosses.

Sounds great in theory but a fit, re-energised KT is a golden ticket.

Tony: To get a player of Tierney's quality at peak age, (28), for free is great business.

His injury record isn't great, but not all were strains/pulls so hopeful he can largely stay injury-free. And a great vice captain. We'll still need cover for left back, which would be great if Greg Taylor, but if not then maybe James Penrice from Hearts with Mitchel Frame set up as longer-term successor after a year or two out on loan.

Philip: An absolutely fantastic piece of business. KT's return is a massive boost for the Champions. He's joining the finest team in Scotland and will make them better. Welcome home.

Thomas: Look, he's a quality player, but does his injury record inspire any confidence? What's the point in having a player of that quality (and paying him accordingly) if you can't rely on him to be fit?

David: Top quality player, Celtic to the core, great he's back. But, I would not have paid a transfer fee purely because he is injury prone.

So, getting him for nothing makes for good business. Better business would be getting Greg Taylor back in the Hoops.

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Former Celtic captain Scott Brown spoke to BBC Scotland about his former team-mate and pal Kieran Tierney returning to Glasgow: "He's an absolute die-hard Celtic fan.

"He just absolutely buzzes off playing for Celtic.

"It was a hard decision for him to go, but I think it was the right decision. He waited until the end of the season, he left, and he knew he had a chance to go down to a huge, huge club.

"He went there, he played, and everyone loved him to start with. He went out on loan, played, and everyone loved him there.

"He was one of the quickest in the Premier League last year, over 10, 15 yards. He excites people, but it's a desire. Even in Scotland games, he breezes by players.

"When we were at Celtic and he came through, I thought, 'this guy's got something'.

"You can see his willingness, his desire to go through. He broke his leg in a tackle to try and I loved that. I was like, he wants to tackle because it's missing for the young ones. They don't want a tackle, they want to just put a foot in and just feel.

"The wee man has got absolute legs of steel and wants to go and fight.

"He wants to go and fight for the cause and I think that's what Celtic fans love about him."

Celtic have restarted talks with long-term target Michel-Ange Balikwisha as the 21-year-old winger prepares to leave Royal Antwerp. (Sacha Tavolieri on X), external

Celtic have reopened talks over a potential deal for Sarpsborg winger Sondre Ørjasæter, with the Norwegian club holding out for a fee of around £7m for the 21-year-old, who was a January target for Brendan Rodgers' side. (Sky Sports), external

Fulham striker Callum Osmand has completed a medical with Celtic, with the Scottish champions to pay training compensation for the 19-year-old once the deal is completed. (Sky Sports), external

Anderlecht have rejected an initial approach from Celtic for Ecuador winger Nilson Angulo. (StudioFutbol, external - in Spanish)

Celtic are close to a £50,000 deal for 17-year-old Morton defender Isaac English. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

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Brendan Rodgers is "so pleased" to bring back "such an elite player" in Kieran Tierney after it was confirmed the defender has signed a five-year deal at Celtic.

Left-back Tierney thrived under Rodgers' management during both of their first spells at the Parkhead club.

Since then, the pair have spent time in the Premier League, Tierney at Arsenal and Rodgers at Leicester, before being reunited in Glasgow.

"He is such a talented, high quality player and he will be a massive addition to our squad," Rodgers said.

"Kieran has always had Celtic in his blood and he is excited to be coming back to the place he loves.

"He is someone who has given so much to Celtic already and I know he is so motivated and hungry to help the club bring more and more success to our fans.

"We are so pleased to bring such an elite player back to the club and I look forward to working with him again."

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Speaking to BBC Scotland, former Celtic captain Scott Brown gave his reaction to Kieran Tierney's return: "He's a very, very good character in and about the place. Everyone loves him because he gives 110%.

"You can see how good he's got going down the road, working with even better players as well, playing in the Champions League, then going away to Spain.

"It's a really good fit for the club and also a really good fit for him as well. He's nowhere near coming to the end of his career. He's still got a long, long way to go and he'll probably say: 'Can I go and win trophies? Can I go and show I'm a top quality player?'.

"It's probably the best move Celtic's made. Looking at Kieran, Brendan Rodgers got the best out of him before, he knows what he's like. I'm sure he probably tried to sign him when he was down at Leicester as well.

"You can see longer term, Kieran will probably be next Celtic captain."

Celtic fans, the announcement you have all been waiting for has finally been revealed. Kieran Tierney is back on a five-year deal.

What sort of message do you feel this statement signing sends for next season? What does it mean for Greg Taylor, whose future is still unclear?

And what do you make of the contract length? Do Tierney's injury concerns in recent years have you worried at all?

Send us your thoughts

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Scottish Premiership champions Celtic will begin their pre-season schedule with a trip to fellow Glasgow club Queen's Park.

The friendly at The City Stadium will take place on 4 July at 19:45 BST.

After a high-scoring 6-4 win in the fixture last year, this is the second summer in a row Brendan Rodgers will take his team to the second-tier side for pre-season.

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Convincing Celtic captain Callum McGregor to make a Scotland return would be the "perfect scenario" for head coach Steve Clarke, says Scott Brown.

McGregor, 31, opted to retire from international duty in August last year following the nation's disappointing Euro 2024 campaign.

Even without McGregor, who has continued to flourish at club level, Scotland's midfield is one of Clarke's stronger areas.

Motherwell teenager Lennon Miller has emerged as an option following an impressive June camp, plus Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson all remain squad regulars.

But ex-Celtic and Scotland captain Brown, who reversed an initial decision to retire from international duty as a player, feels McGregor is still the one Scottish midfielder who "ticks all the boxes" for Clarke.

"There are so many possibilities," the Ayr United manager told BBC Scotland. "The pairing of Gilmour and McTominay is one that's got to flourish.

"You know what you're getting with McGinn. Clarke likes McLean because of his experience. Christie is favoured as a 10, too, so there are plenty of legs in there.

"But the perfect scenario is to get McGregor back. He is the one that ticks all the boxes. He can sit, he can go forward.

"I know he is retired, but that is what Scotland are looking for."

Read more: 'Miller time for Scotland - but McGregor return the dream'

Fulham forward Callum Osmand, 19, could become Celtic's next signing. (Sun), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic will play Portuguese champions Sporting in a pre-season friendly next month at the Estadio do Algarve.

Brendan Rodgers' side head out to Portugal for a training camp after facing League of Ireland side Cork City at the SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh on July 8.

They will take on Rui Borges' side on Wednesday, 16 July before welcoming Premier League side Newcastle United to Celtic Park three days later.

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No Scottish Premiership midfielder won possession more often than Celtic captain Callum McGregor last season.

The former Scotland international made 214 recoveries across 35 league games, 11 more than Motherwell's Lennon Miller in second.

The Celtic youth product also ranks top for touches (3,128), successful passes (2,592), successful passes into the final third (741) and pass accuracy (94%).

At the age of 31, McGregor continues to be integral to the Parkhead side - and his underlying numbers are evidence of that.