Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic has been met with widespread excitement, with Celtic B team coach Stephen McManus stressing the importance of the move to CeltsAreHere earlier today for both the first team and the club’s younger players.
Tierney, still only 28, brings back years of Premier League and European experience. His return comes at a time when Brendan Rodgers continues to develop a young Celtic squad, blending academy graduates with experienced campaigners.
McManus believes Tierney’s presence will serve as an invaluable influence for those looking to make the step up from the B team.
He’s home.
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 10, 2025
The former Celtic captain was speaking while promoting the club’s upcoming friendly against Newcastle United on July 19. With pre-season preparations underway behind the scenes, McManus sees Tierney’s homecoming as the type of move that sends the right message across the club’s footballing structure.
For McManus, the timing of Tierney’s return could not be better, with the player still at his physical peak and bringing fresh drive and ambition back to Glasgow after his time in England.
He 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.
“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.
“When somebody as good as that leaves, you want to make sure that you’re financially getting rewarded for the success that he’s brought, but you also don’t want somebody then coming back with two years to go within their career and they’re obviously winding it down. I think that’s really important.
“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.”
Tierney’s decision to return to Celtic has been viewed by many as a statement of intent, not just personally, but for the direction of the club. While many players make sentimental returns later in their careers, Tierney’s move comes with plenty still to offer at both domestic and international level.
His arrival gives Brendan Rodgers another proven option at left-back, while also injecting further competition and leadership into the dressing room. With Celtic aiming to retain their domestic dominance and make an impact in Europe, having a player of Tierney’s pedigree could prove vital.
For the academy players under McManus, Tierney’s presence offers a first-hand example of what can be achieved coming through the club’s ranks. The chance to train and play alongside someone who made that journey and then thrived abroad is something few clubs can offer.
As preparations continue for the friendly against Newcastle and the new season beyond, Tierney’s return provides Celtic with fresh optimism and a sense of continuity. His homecoming represents more than just a transfer, it’s a major boost for the entire club structure, from youth development right up to first-team ambitions.
