Celtic have announced that James Forrest has extended his stay at the club.
The Hoops confirmed that the winger has signed a new one-year deal, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.
It feels fitting. Forrest has been around for so long that it is easy to forget how rare this kind of career is.
He joined the academy at nine. He is now the most decorated player in the club’s history.
There have been ups and downs, spells in and out of the side, and long injury battles. Through it all, Forrest has remained a constant. In a statement, Celtic said:
“Celtic are delighted to announce that James Forrest has signed a new one-year deal which will see him remain at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.
“James, who joined the Celtic Youth Academy when he was nine years old, has been an integral part of the first-team squad since making his debut on May 1, 2010 when he scored in a 4-0 win over Motherwell.
“Since then, he has gone on to make 564 appearances – including 36 appearances this season – scoring 110 goals and providing 112 assists, the most recent of which came in last weekend’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final victory over St Mirren.”
Those numbers tell their own story. Over 500 appearances. Goals in 17 consecutive seasons. Still contributing in big moments.
Sunday was the latest example. Forrest came off the bench against St Mirren at Hampden and shifted the momentum of the game when it was needed.
He does not always start now. That is the reality at this stage of his career.
But he still has a role, and Martin O’Neill trusts him when it matters.
Forrest has spoken before about finishing his career at Celtic. This extension keeps that possibility alive.
There is no sentimentality about this. You do not stay at a club like Celtic for this long without continuing to offer something on the pitch.
He has earned another year.
Now the focus shifts back to the league. Celtic are closing in on another title, and Forrest will be part of that push, just as he has been for more than a decade.
