Celtic have confirmed that Kieran Tierney has rejoined as a free agent on a five-year contract.
The Scotland international returns to his boyhood club after six years on the books at Arsenal and reunites with Brendan Rodgers, under whom he won seven major honours at Celtic Park between 2016 and 2019.
Rodgers had actually revealed Tierney would be joining as far back as January, but that hasn’t dampened the excitement of the Bhoys’ supporters, who are delighted to see their academy graduate and one-time ballboy return home.
Tierney turned down approaches from a host of clubs in Europe to make the return to Glasgow and has been handed the same number 63 he wore when he made his breakthrough.
“My ambition is just for Celtic to be as successful as possible, retain our place at the top and continue to win trophies and do well for Celtic,” he told the club website.
“Everybody’s known for a few months and just to be here with the Celtic strip on again just feels amazing.
“When you move away from home, you grow up, you learn different things. I was in Spain for a year, learning a different language and playing in a different league, so I’m definitely a different person.
“Player-wise, it’s the same as I always say – I’ll try and work my hardest, I’ll do my best for the club and that’s all I can do.”
Tierney made 144 appearances for Arsenal during an injury-hit spell in north London. He also featured 26 times for Real Sociedad while on loan in the 2023/24 campaign.
Who knows, maybe we’ll see him again soon. It wouldn’t be surprising if Arsenal faced Celtic in the Champions League next season.