Celtic midfielder Kwon joined St Mirren on loan until the end of the season earlier in the January window, a move aimed at providing him with valuable playing time and experience in the SPFL.
This transfer comes after Kwon’s challenging first six months at Celtic, where he has yet to make a competitive appearance for the team. Although, he has made a few bench appearances.
Kwon’s arrival at Celtic, alongside K-League 1 Young Player of the Year Yang, was a sign of the club’s attempt to identify and nurture talent from diverse footballing backgrounds. He was scouted from the second division of Korean football.
Brendan Rodgers, Celtic’s manager, has drawn parallels between Kwon’s loan move and the successful loan spell of Kris Ajer at Kilmarnock. Ajer’s time at Killie, which occurred when Rodgers first joined Celtic, was pivotal in his development, leading to a successful stint with Celtic and eventually a £13.5 million transfer to Brentford in the English Premier League.
Speaking on Friday, Brendan Rodgers said [Celtic TV]: “I think, for the likes of Kwon, you see him as an example. He’s come in from the other side of the world; it’s been a challenge for him.
“I spoke to Steven on him. He’s got lots of really good attributes, which is why he was brought here. But I think to get that experience and playing games is important for his development.
“That happened here when I was here first with Kris Ajer. He wasn’t probably going to quite get the game time I felt he needed. He needed experience. He went out to Kilmarnock and had a great season, and then came back and played and did very well for the club.
“So, for Kwon, it’s a really good move for him in many aspects. You know, he can stay in Glasgow, and he’s gone to a very good coach and a very good coaching team. We expect him to improve playing games.”
