Celtic officially announce the return of Kieran Tierney
Celtic announce the return of Kieran Tierney on a pre-contract deal from Arsenal. Tierney left the Parkhead club in 2019 for a fee of £25 million and spent six years at the Gunners. The 28-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year deal, which will keep him at the Celts until 2030. During his time in London he managed to win the FA Cup in 2020 and was loaned out in 2023 to Real Sociedad. The left-back had a successful time in Glasgow winning 8 major honours with the Scottish champions. The Scotland international spoke of his delight to return to his boyhood club: “Everybody’s known for a few months and just to be here with the Celtic strip on again just feels amazing. “I spoke with the manager, and obviously I had worked with him before and I’ve always kept in touch with him. He’s one of the best so I’m so lucky and grateful that he’s given me the chance to come back again. “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. “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.”
Russell Martin gives verdict on the future of James Tavernier as captain
New Rangers head coach Russell Martin was asked about the future of the club captain James Tavernier and the speculation surrounding his captaincy going forward. Tavernier was officially given the armband seven years ago by previous boss Steven Gerrard and it’s been a rollercoaster since. The 33-year-old has won every domestic trophy in Scotland and even captained the Light Blues to a Europa League final in 2022, where he finished top goal scorer in the competition with seven goals. The right-back has been at the club for ten years and is set to have his testimonial this season. The Bradford-born defender is in the final year of his contract and many expect it to be his final season at Ibrox. Martin played with Tavernier in 2018 during a six month loan spell and he believes the full-back is still ‘hugely important’ to the team: “I think to play here for as long as he has, to be captain for as long as he has, takes a lot of energy. It’s not easy. I’ve been at a club where sometimes you’re the one that’s been there the longest and you end up getting criticised a lot because you’ve been there the longest. You’re an ageing player and all that stuff. “I think he’s been so important for this team and this club on and off the pitch and I’m looking forward to chatting in more detail with him and speaking to him about it all. “Then how much he gets used on the pitch will be down to Tav and how he trains and how he plays, the same as every player. But he’s going to be hugely important in the culture. I know what he’s like as a person behind the scenes and he’s fantastic.” Tavernier has come under some criticism from sections of the Rangers faithful with calls for Nicolas Raskin to become the new skipper. Martin said he doesn’t see any reason why he would take the captaincy off Tavernier if he’s featuring in the team and playing well: “How much he plays on the pitch, I can’t sit here and tell you he’s going to play 50 games, 20 games, whatever. It will be down to him in the way he performs and the way he buys into it, which I’m pretty sure he will. “If he’s playing. He’s been the captain for a very long time. I don’t see any reason to change that. And if he’s not playing, it will force someone else [to be captain].”
Dundee United’s Dalby Replacement?
Dundee United have secured the services of 22-year-old Australian forward Zac Sapsford from Western Sydney Wanderers on a three-year deal, awaiting final approval. Sapsford, an Australia Under-17 international, previously found the net 11 times in 43 appearances for the Wanderers. His arrival is a crucial move for the Tangerines, who needed to replace the significant goal threat left by Sam Dalby. Dalby, who was on loan from Wrexham, bagged 15 league goals last season, including a vital penalty on the final day that secured a 4th-place finish for the Terrors. He has since made a permanent move to Bolton Wanderers. Manager Jim Goodwin expressed his satisfaction with the early acquisition of Sapsford, praising him as a “dynamic forward” with a “killer instinct” in front of goal. Goodwin highlighted Sapsford’s ability to score with either foot or his head, as well as his knack for intelligently involving his teammates in play.