When it comes to academy stars Celtic have been created, Kieran Tierney is right up there. Working his way through the ranks to become a first team star and an invincible treble winner.

Despite high hopes from supporters that he’d be a lifelong Celtic player, much like a Callum McGregor or James Forrest, Tierney took a different path. In 2019, he made a money spinning move to Arsenal for a record-breaking £25 million, setting a new benchmark for Scottish football transfers.

While Tierney’s journey at Arsenal has been a rollercoaster, with initial expectations of him becoming a future captain, his trajectory took a turn as he found himself out of Mikel Arteta’s preferred lineup, leading to his loan to Real Sociedad. When he has been fit in Spain, he has earned rave reviews but injuries have blighted his spell.

The bond between Tierney and Celtic seems unbreakable. Nearly five years post-departure, whispers of his return to Parkhead are never too far from the surface, especially with Brendan Rodgers’ comeback stirring more speculation.

Tierney himself has. not done anything to cool the rumours, hinting at a possible reunion with Celtic somewhere down the road. In a conversation with talkSPORT live, Tierney was asked about a potential return, the Arsenal loanee replying, “Who knows. You never know in football, it’s a connection that I will always have and it’s somewhere I will imagine I will always be linked with if I were to move from any club. So, you never know.”

The prospect of Tierney donning the Celtic jersey again is appealing, but the money it would take for his return coupled with his injury history and it becomes less so.

At just 26, he remains a sought-after talent capable of making waves in one of Europe’s top leagues if he can stay fit.