Greg Taylor has revealed the reasons behind his decision to leave Celtic and join Greek side PAOK, bringing an end to a six-year spell at the Hoops.
Taylor made over 200 appearances for Celtic, winning five league titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups during his time in Glasgow. He was a regular under multiple managers and was a key part of Brendan Rodgers’ title-winning side last season.
His departure opened the door for the return of Kieran Tierney, but Taylor’s influence over the years has been widely acknowledged. Speaking after his move was confirmed, the 27-year-old explained the thinking behind his switch to Thessaloniki.
He said: (PAOK), “It’s obviously a new chapter for me and my family but I’m very excited to be here now.
“The love I was shown from the club, many of the directors, the manager, they showed that they believed in me and were very excited for me to come to the project with such a historical season, the 100 years of the club.
“It made me really want to take the jump to be here. We want to be the best team in Greece, we want to win the league and hopefully be successful in Europe. That would be our aim for this season.”
Taylor’s decision to leave at the peak of his career will have surprised some, but the timing of the move appears deliberate. With Tierney returning to Celtic and competition for places ramping up, Taylor has opted for a new test abroad, rather than risk reduced minutes at Celtic.
Celtic, meanwhile, will now look to bring in a left-back to provide cover and competition for Tierney, whose fitness issues in recent seasons are well documented. The recruitment team will be under pressure to move swiftly in the market to ensure depth remains intact.
Taylor’s time at Celtic saw him grow into a dependable figure in the back line. His move marks the end of a steady and successful stint in Glasgow, and his experience will no doubt be an asset to PAOK as they chase silverware.
