Kieran Tierney’s Celtic shirt number, contract length confirmed after completing fairytale return from Arsenal

Celtic have confirmed the return of left-back Kieran Tierney following his departure from Arsenal.

The 28-year-old left the Glaswegian giants to join the Gunners in 2019 for £25m, having come through the youth ranks at Celtic Park.

Tierney played 144 times for Arsenal in all competitions, but the injury-plagued defender fell down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta following a knee injury at the end of the 2021-22 campaign and spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Real Sociedad.

The Scotland international marked his final appearance for the Gunners with the opening goal in a 2-1 win over Southampton on the final weekend of the 2024-25 Premier League season.

Celtic confirmed in their January financial accounts that an agreement had been reached to re-sign Tierney, who has now put pen to paper on a five-year contract until 2030 after leaving Arsenal on a free transfer.

Tierney outlines Celtic ambition after making fairytale return

“Everybody’s known for a few months and just to be here with the Celtic strip on again just feels amazing,” Tierney told the club’s official website.

“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.”

Rodgers thrilled to have signed “elite player” Tierney

Manager Brendan Rodgers added: “We are delighted to welcome Kieran back to Celtic. He is such a talented, high-quality player and he will be a massive addition to our squad.

“Kieran has always had Celtic in his blood and he is excited to be coming back to the place he loves.

“He is someone who has given so much to Celtic already and I know he is so motivated and hungry to help the club bring more and more success to our fans.

“We are so pleased to bring such an elite player back to the club and I look forward to working with him again and the rest of the squad, as we face the many challenges ahead at home and in Europe.”

Tierney will wear the iconic 63 shirt that he also donned during his first stint at Celtic when he made a total of 170 appearances between 2015 and 2019.

He joins a Hoops side who won the Scottish Premiership title - finishing 17 points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers - and the Scottish League Cup last season.

Written by
Oliver Thomas