Arsenal's first summer transfer confirmed as club release statement after manager comments

Celtic have confirmed that they have reached a pre-contract agreement to re-sign Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney at the end of the season.

The Scotland international entered the last six months of his deal with the Gunners in January, leaving him free to enter discussions with foreign clubs over a pre-contract agreement for the summer.

A return to Celtic has long been expected to materialise for Tierney, and Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers affirmed that a deal would happen at some point in 2025 when questioned during the January transfer window.

Celtic have been working behind the scenes to re-hire the 27-year-old for the 2025-26 season and beyond, and the Scottish Premiership champions have now confirmed that a reunion is on the cards.

Celtic announced Tierney's return as part of their interim financial report, confirming that they had struck a pre-contract agreement with the Arsenal man as part of their winter transfer business.

Celtic confirm Tierney to return from Arsenal in summer

© Imago

"During the January 2025 transfer window, we acquired the permanent registration of Jota and the temporary registration of Jeffrey Schlupp," the Hoops' report read.

"In addition, we extended the contract of Kasper Schmeichel and entered into a pre-contract agreement that will see Kieran Tierney return to Celtic in July 2025.

"We disposed of the registrations of Kyogo Furuhashi, Alexander Bernabei and placed Luis Palma, Odin Holm and Stephen Welsh on Loan."

Tierney was largely expected to leave Arsenal last year after returning from a loan spell at Real Sociedad, but the serious hamstring injury he sustained at Euro 2024 scuppered his hopes of an exit.

The 27-year-old has since forced his way back into Mikel Arteta's squad but has only made five appearances across all competitions in the 2024-25 season, starting just one match in the EFL Cup and totalling a mere 16 minutes in the Premier League.

Tierney's Arsenal exit an inevitable end to disappointing tale

© Imago

Not every Gunner will endear himself to Gooners straight away - even the great Thierry Henry did not hit the ground running at Highbury - but Tierney immediately became a fan favourite in North London for good reason.

The ever-consistent Nacho Monreal was always going to be a tough act to follow, but Tierney brought an explosiveness down the left-hand side with his lung-busting overlapping runs and pinpoint deliveries onto the head of his teammates.

The Scotland international seemingly had all the makings of a future Arsenal captain, only for injuries to rear their ugly heads time and time again, but the most crushing blow was Arteta's tactical shift.

Instead of relying on Tierney's pace on the overlap, the Spaniard now favours the inverting prowess of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Riccardo Calafiori and - to a degree - Oleksandr Zinchenko, whose signing spelled the beginning of the end for Tierney.

There will of course be more opportunities for Tierney to add to his five goals and 13 assists from 129 Arsenal games between now and the end of the season, and while his 2019 move from Celtic has not worked out completely as intended, he has been a loyal servant to the Gunners and should enjoy the fondest farewell.

Written by
Ben Knapton