Celtic are set to lose a highly-rated starlet at Lennoxtown amid reports that he is set for a move to the English Championship.
Over the last few years, homegrown products leaving Glasgow’s east end to try their luck elsewhere have become more common, though there are mitigating factors that have led to this process happening time and time again
Due to Brexit and restrictions on freedom of movement, English clubs face severe obstacles to sign talent from the continent before they turn 18 years old. Ultimately, this has made the Scottish market a very attractive source of recruiting young talent for sides south of the border.
Scouts are regularly in attendance to spot prodigious individuals, and consequently, more youngsters are choosing to leave this country to head in the direction of England, which is an inconvenience for the likes of Celtic, but is also a reality the club have to come to terms with.
Either way, new information has come to light concerning a 16-year-old prospect set to follow this trend.
Celtic set to lose prospect AJ Doyle to Derby County
According to The Athletic, Celtic are set to lose starlet AJ Doyle to English Championship outfit Derby County, with the outlet noting he has ‘agreed a deal’ to swap Parkhead for Pride Park.
The prospect has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level, and he will have plans to make a name for himself at the club in years to come.
Partick Thistle’s Cieran Loney is headed to Everton, and Heart of Midlothian youngster Rocco Friel is set to join Queens Park Rangers, illustrating a small sample size of how the impact of Brexit manifests itself in the Scottish footballing landscape.
Ben Doak, Vincent Angelini and Aidan Borland are recent examples of players who have left Celtic to further their careers in England due to changes in legislation.
Until something changes, the Bhoys will continue to lose out on young talent as Scottish-based assets occupy a unique position on the market.