Dara Jikiemi looks to be following the same path as Ben Gannon-Doak
08:10, 05 Jun 2026Updated 08:18, 05 Jun 2026
Dara Jikiemi
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Dara Jikiemi
Top Liverpool target Dara Jikiemi has turned down a new deal at Celtic.
The Scottish champions had tabled a new long-term contract but the 16-year-old has rejected that in recent days.
Celtic have been informed of Jikiemi’s decision and the centre-back looks set to move on this summer.
The Scotland youth captain has a number of English Premier League options and Record Sport broke the story in November Liverpool was keen to land him.
The Anfield club, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest have all expressed interest in the talented teenage defender.
Liverpool have been in the mix for several months and are favourites to secure a deal.
Celtic will be entitled to training compensation but it will be less if Jikiemi moves cross-border.
It looks to be another damaging loss for the Hoops academy.
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Liverpool signed Scotland international Ben Gannon-Doak from Celtic back in 2022.
Celtic have lost a number of their academy graduates to the English Premier League in recent seasons.
Conall Glancy has gone to Tottenham Hotspur, while Daniel Cummings moved to West Ham United, Aidan Borland signed on at Aston Villa and Rory Mahady at Leeds United.