When Kieran Tierney left Celtic Park in 2019, he did so with tears in his eyes and a promise to one day return. Six years, one FA Cup, and a wealth of top-level experience later, he’s kept that promise. And now, aged 28 and entering the peak of his career, he’s back on a five-year deal, and Celtic fans have every reason to be ecstatic.
This isn’t a nostalgia signing. This isn’t a “one last dance” farewell tour. This is a serious footballer, hardened by the rigours of English and Spanish football, returning to lead his boyhood club during his prime. In footballing terms, Tierney is coming home at the perfect time.
Since leaving Celtic for Arsenal in a then-record £25 million move, Tierney has tested himself in the Premier League, Champions League, and La Liga. While injury setbacks have blunted some momentum, the quality has never wavered. His time at Arsenal and Real Sociedad has only sharpened his game he’s now more mature and experienced.
Tierney’s return signals something Celtic fans have long craved. Ambition. In recent years, the club’s transfer policy has largely revolved around the potential. Buy young, sell high. It’s a transfer strategy with merit, but it’s also come at a cost.
Tierney changes that. He’s not a project. He’s not a stopgap. He’s a statement. At 28, he’s got five years of peak performance ahead of him, which is a rarity for a returning Celt.
It’s a statement of a signing.
It’s something that Brendan Rodgers can point to when talking to players, trying to get them over to Glasgow to sign with the club. A 28-year-old, by all means, world-class footballer playing at Parkhead is a great sell.
It’s an exciting signing for many reasons, but with the peak of his career to be spent with his boyhood club, Celtic fans have every right to get excited.
