Football Apr 30, 2026

Celtic transfer news: James Forrest agrees new deal at Scottish Premiership club until end of next season

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Celtic transfer news: James Forrest agrees new deal at Scottish Premiership club until end of next season

Celtic winger James Forrest has agreed a new deal, keeping him at the club next season.

The 34-year-old, who is the club's most-decorated player, has signed a one-year extension with the current Scottish Premiership champions.

Forrest has won 26 major honours with the Hoops, including 13 league titles, seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups.

He has netted 110 goals in 564 appearances for the club, scoring in every one of the 17 seasons he has played for Celtic.

Speaking to the club's website, he said: "I'm absolutely delighted. I've been here my full career and I've loved every minute of it.

"We've been so successful in my time here and I'm delighted to have signed another year, and I'll just give my best to the club for however long I'll be here.

"While I'm still playing I can hopefully keep contributing and helping the team when I can and I'm just going to give it everything until I finish. When I do stop, I will look back on so many great memories, but hopefully I can make a few more before I do finish."

Manager Martin O'Neill added: "I really want James to finish his career here at Celtic, and I just didn't want him to be going elsewhere, and I think he wanted that as well.

"But the major point about taking anyone on is to know whether they're worth an extra year and James has proved this season that he has been worth that.

"He has changed games, and he has done wonderfully well. His contribution in recent weeks when he's come off the bench has been absolutely terrific, and he has deserved it, and that's the point.

"So, take sentimentality right out of it, he's deserved it.

"He's been immense for the football club since Neil Lennon brought him in when he was a young kid in the reserves, and he is what I love - I love players who take people on and he can take people on, even to have that little burst of pace at his age is worth its weight in gold."

Celtic captain Callum McGregor:

"Massively deserved. He's someone who has been at the club for a long, long time now. He knows the fabric of the place, knows how it operates. Knows what it takes to be a successful Celtic player.

"He's won countless trophies. Someone with huge experience who is always there when you need him.

"Someone like that is invaluable to your football club.

"I don't think there's much room in football for sentiment. The minute you're not needed you're out the door, so it just shows you how important he is.

"If you can be at this club, big clubs, for a long time it shows you're doing something right.

"Every season has its challenges, you have to adapt and someone like James has done that amazingly well throughout his career.

"So many times he's had to show different sides to his game to be a mainstay at the club. If you're here for that long you must be doing something right.

"He just lives and breathes football and Celtic, so when you've got guys like that who are total professionals and always carry the club's best interests at heart then it's so, so important that you keep these guys in your building and keep pushing in the right direction."

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