Whilst transfer incomings at Celtic are at the forefront of the supporters’ minds, Brendan Rodgers is bound to add new faces to the first team soon for the new season ahead.
The speculation has been ramped up as Celtic not only searches for a new goalkeeper but also looks to bring Adam Idah back to the club after the Irishman’s brilliant loan spell in the last half of the season.
And whilst all of the focus has been on first-team affairs, Celtic released a statement about the academy that will ignite the interest of the Parkhead support.
Nine academy prospects sign professional deals at Celtic
The Celtic fans love it when players graduate from the academy and make their mark on the first team.
They have seen how players like Callum McGregor and James Forrest progressed through the ranks to become living legends at the club,
And in an announcement today, Celtic have told how nine new academy starlets have signed their first professional deals at the club.
The statement on the Celtic website read, “Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of nine of our Academy players on their first professional contracts.
“Ahead of the 2024/25 season, Jack Thomson, Owen Hartington, Josh Mulgrew, Jacob Donnelly, Aodhan Taylor, Samuel Sedwell, Corey Shaw, Ezekiel Molife and Cameron Patterson have all taken the next step in their football careers and signed professional deals with the club.
“For every young player at the club, they only need to look at the men’s first team for inspiration to see players like Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh, James Forrest and captain, Callum McGregor, all of whom are graduates of Celtic’s Youth Academy.
“Everyone at Celtic Football Club wishes the players all the very best and we look forward to seeing how their careers develop in the coming years.”
Celtic youngsters to watch
Although not much is known about the nine players, there are five to keep an eye on. Scotland U16 goalkeeper Cameron Patterson, who has four caps, played in the 4-1 win over Norway U16s back in March.
Young attacker, Ezekiel Molife is also part of the Scotland U16 set-up after being named in the squad for the Pinatar Friendly Tournament last September alongside Patterson. [SFA]
Young Samuel Sedwell was also part of the Scotland U15 squad that narrowly lost out in the UEFA Development Tournament after a loss to Malta U15s in September 2022.
Celtic also saw off competition from England to secure Jacob Donnelly and highly-rated Jack Thomson was also snapped up by the club from Mossend Football Club in March 2022 as a pro-youth.
With Celtic’s recent appointment of Darren O’Dea as the Player Pathway Manager, the fans will be hoping that some of these youngsters will eventually make it to the Celtic first-team as they look to progress at the club.
