Celtic Announce Kieran Tierney Signing as Arsenal Defender Prepares for Emotional Homecoming

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers Confirms Kieran Tierney’s Summer Return from Arsenal

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney will rejoin Celtic this summer at the latest, as his contract with the Gunners expires at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old, who moved to Arsenal for £25 million in 2019, was the club’s first-choice left-back for several seasons before falling down the pecking order. After spending last season on loan at Real Sociedad, where he made just five appearances this term, speculation grew about a potential January exit.

Rodgers has now confirmed that Celtic have secured a deal for Tierney, though an earlier move in January was preferred. Speaking before Celtic’s Champions League clash with Aston Villa, Rodgers said: “Ideally, it would happen in January, but he’s still an Arsenal player for now. Everyone agrees the move will happen in the summer, but if we can do it earlier, that would be great.”

Tierney initially lost his place to Oleksandr Zinchenko, and the summer signing of Riccardo Calafiori pushed him further out of Mikel Arteta’s plans. His time at Arsenal has been plagued by injuries, with ten fitness setbacks over six years limiting his impact.

He made a brief appearance in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves but hasn’t started a match since the 3-2 Carabao Cup victory over Crystal Palace on December 18. Reports suggested Celtic had opened talks over a pre-contract agreement, allowing Tierney to return to the club where he enjoyed significant success.

Between 2014 and 2019, Tierney made 170 appearances for Celtic, winning four Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups, and two League Cups. At Arsenal, he featured 129 times and was part of the FA Cup-winning squad in 2019-20.