Alistair Johnston has publicly tried to help his younger brother Malcolm find a new club after the midfielder became a free agent following his spell with Portland Timbers 2.

The Celtic right-back responded on X after discussion around Malcolm’s future and international eligibility began circulating online. Malcolm, now 25, has never been capped at any level internationally despite being eligible for Canada, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland through family connections.

Their mother is from Poleglass in Belfast, which opened the door to international eligibility outside Canada. Some supporters online suggested Malcolm could even become a player worth looking at for clubs in the Irish League given his availability and experience in MLS Next Pro.


Unlike Alistair, who quickly established himself in MLS before moving to Celtic, Malcolm’s route has been slower. He played 55 matches in MLS Next Pro across spells with Whitecaps FC 2 and Portland Timbers 2, mainly operating in central midfield or deeper defensive roles. The numbers suggest a hard-working squad player more than an attacking midfielder chasing headlines.

Johnston responded himself while trying to help his brother secure a move.


The post quickly caught attention because it is not often you see an established international player openly advertising a free-agent sibling online. It also gave a clearer idea of Malcolm Johnston’s current situation after leaving Portland.

From a football point of view, the appeal for clubs is probably his versatility. He has played central midfield, defensive midfield and centre-back during his time in North America. Coaches often value that flexibility in smaller squads where players are needed across different systems and match situations.


There is also the passport angle. For clubs in Scotland, Ireland or elsewhere in Europe, bringing in a player without visa complications changes the conversation immediately, especially lower down the leagues where budgets are tighter and recruitment can move quickly.

The Glasgow line in Johnston’s post was clearly tongue-in-cheek, but Celtic supporters will probably enjoy the image of Alistair trying to bring family a little closer to home while preparing for another season in green and white.

1 COMMENT

  1. Surely one for Neil Lennon at Dunfermline to nurture to see if he can come up to Celtic standard.

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