Brendan Rodgers backs Kelechi to do well at Celtic after he signs one-year deal with them

CELTIC head coach Brendan Rodgers has backed former Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho to do well in the Scottish Premier League after he signed a one-year contract with the Glasgow giants yesterday.

Iheanacho, 28, who was a free agent after being released by his Spanish club Sevilla lately, put pen to paper to a one-year deal with the option to extend it by another season. This will see Iheanacho team up with coach Rodgers who managed him when he played in the English Premier League for Leicester City.

Celtic are the current Scottish champions but needed Iheanacho to reinforce their attack following the sale of centre-forwards Kyogo Furuhashi in January and Adam Idah on Monday this week. It is widely expected that Iheanacho will be the leading striker at Celtic as he looks to get his career back on track.

Iheanacho  moved to Sevilla on a three-year deal from Leicester City last summer but his time in Spain did not go well. After six months without a league goal in Seville, Iheanacho returned to the English Championship, where he agreed a loan deal with Middlesbrough, with an option of a permanent transfer..

However, the former Manchester City forward scored just one goal and provided two assists with the Boro as Micheal Carrick's team missed out on the Championship play-offs. Iheanacho's best individual season came under Rodgers in the 2020/21 season when he scored 19 goals and provided six assists in 39 games across all competitions for Leicester City.

Mr Rodgers said: “I know Kelechi so well and I know what he can bring to the team. He is such a talented player, with great ability, athleticism and work rate.

“I am sure he will love being at Celtic and I believe our fans will love what he brings. He has great experience and he is right in his peak years so he can be a great signing for us. I am sure he will make a big contribution to the team.”

Born in Imo State, Iheanacho holds the distinction of being the second-youngest Nigerian-born player to score in the Premier League, behind Victor Anichebe. A product of Manchester City’s academy, Iheanacho found the net at just 18 years and 344 days in a Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

With his transfer to Celtic, Iheanacho becomes the third Super Eagles players to play for the Glasgow giants. In the past, two other Nigerians who have worn the club's colours include  Efe Ambrose, who has  47 Super Eagles caps and Ibrahim Rabiu, who won four caps with Nigeria.