Kieran Tierney Completes Return to Former Club on a Free Transfer

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: Kieran Tierney of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Arsenal FC and GNK Dinamo at on January 22, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Kieran Tierney’s Celtic homecoming is official as he completes a sensational return from Arsenal on a free transfer.

Kieran Tierney’s Celtic homecoming is now official, with the Scottish international signing a five-year contract with his boyhood club, much to the delight of both clubs’ fans. After six seasons at Arsenal, the left-back makes his long-anticipated return to Paradise, closing the chapter on his North London adventure. Originally departing Celtic for Arsenal in 2019 for £25 million, Tierney faced a series of injury setbacks that hindered his ability to cement a consistent place in the Gunners’ starting lineup.

Tierney arrived at Arsenal with immense promise, quickly establishing himself as a fan favorite due to his tenacity, leadership, and attacking prowess from the left flank. His contributions were particularly crucial in Arsenal’s FA Cup-winning campaign in 2020, where his performances helped secure victory over Chelsea in the final. However, as injuries became a recurring problem, Tierney gradually found himself struggling for regular game time.

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With the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jurrien Timber, and the emergence of Arsenal academy talent Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tierney’s opportunities in the first team diminished further. This led to speculation about his future, culminating in his exit from the Emirates on a free transfer this summer.

Tierney bid farewell to Arsenal in style, scoring the opening goal in their 2-1 win over Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season. Following the match, he expressed gratitude to the club and its supporters, acknowledging both the highs and lows of his journey in North London.

Celtic announced his return with a heartwarming video titled BacktoParadise, showcasing his journey from Arsenal back to Glasgow. This nostalgic moment was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from fans, who are thrilled to see their former talisman return home.

Despite the excitement surrounding his Tierney’s fitness. He recently withdrew from the Scotland national team due to injury, alongside Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay. Scotland manager Steve Clarke emphasized that both players needed time to recover and prepare for future competitions.

At Celtic, Tierney is expected to play a vital role in strengthening the defense and bringing experience to a squad eager to compete at the highest level. His leadership, technical ability, and deep connection with the club’s identity could be key factors in Celtic’s success moving forward.

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