Celtic are reportedly edging closer to securing a pre-contract agreement with Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney, according to Sky Sports.
Fabrizio Romano has teased that the deal was still “on”, but it’s now been revealed that an agreement is close.
🟢 Celtic are close to agreeing pre-contract terms with Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney. More ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/GB9FDYjd5g
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 15, 2025
The Hoops are keen to bring their former star back to Parkhead in the summer, but the club are also exploring the possibility of taking him on loan until the end of the season—especially if they progress to the Champions League knockout stages later this month.
Tierney, who came through Celtic’s youth system and was sold to Arsenal in 2019 for a then-record £25m, has been linked with an emotional return to his boyhood club for weeks. With just six months remaining on his contract at Arsenal, the Scotland international is free to negotiate a deal with foreign clubs, but his heart appears to be set on a return to Glasgow.
While the pre-contract agreement would guarantee Tierney’s return in the summer, Celtic are keen to bolster their squad now. Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his desire to improve the left-back position, particularly with Alexandro Bernabei’s permanent move to Internacional and Greg Taylor’s inconsistent form this season. Now add in the possibility of Valle leaving.
If Celtic manage to collect three points against Young Boys or Aston Villa, the club would secure a historic place in the knockout rounds. This could provide the financial and competitive incentive to push for a January loan deal for Tierney, allowing him to make an immediate impact during the critical second half of the season.
However, time would be tight. Celtic face Aston Villa on January 29, and any potential loan deal with Arsenal would need to be completed within the final 48 hours of the transfer window. As of now, no formal approach has been made to the Gunners for a January move, although talks regarding the pre-contract agreement are reportedly progressing well.
In a related development, Barcelona left-back Alex Valle, who is currently on loan at Celtic, has attracted interest from Serie B side Como. The Italian club are keen on taking Valle on loan, but any move is understood to depend on Celtic securing Tierney this month.
Valle, who joined on loan from Barcelona in the summer, has shown promise in limited appearances but has struggled to cement a first-team place under Rodgers. With Tierney potentially arriving, Valle’s opportunities would likely become even more limited, making a mid-season switch to Como a viable option for the young Spaniard.
