**RETURNING** Celtic fans’ favourite Kieran Tierney celebrates his 28th birthday today.
The Scotland international left-back will continue his personal revelry when he walks through the doors at Parkhead on July 1 – six years after leaving for Arsenal in a-then record £25million move.
It seemed inevitable that KT would find a route back to his boyhood heroes and his dreams – and those of the Hoops followers – will be realised in 28 days’ time.
Tierney, who made 144 appearances for the London team, is leaving at the end of his contract and he bade an emotional farewell to the Emirates club.
The 49 times-capped defender sent a classy message to the Gunners’ fans when he told the [club’s media:](https://www.arsenal.com/news/tierney-happy-goodbye-i-loved-every-minute) “Just thank you for everything from day one. They supported us through the good times and the bad, and they supported me through some hard times, as well.
“I think that’s what I’m most grateful for, the times where it wasn’t so good or so easy for me is when they probably supported me most, so I’m just very grateful and I feel very lucky to have the support from them.
“I feel so lucky that I’ve played for this club and the love that the supporters have given me has been amazing. I’ve loved every day here and I’ve learned so much, I’ve improved so much and I just feel very lucky.”
Tierney added: “When I first came in, obviously the club is huge, absolutely massive, but in the league table we were probably where we shouldn’t be.
“I think the growth over the last three or four years has been incredible and I think this club and this group of players and the manager are just going to go on to even better things in the future.
“It’ll be hard, but it’s a happy goodbye. I’ve loved it here, loved every minute of it. There are countless memories that are amazing for me; your debut is always special, and winning the FA Cup as well in the first season.
“It’s a great team, and I’m so close to some of the boys in there. I’ve been here a long time, so it’ll be sad but a happy goodbye.”
Tierney is standing by to make his 50th international appearance for Scotland in the friendly game against Iceland at Hampden Park tomorrow night.
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