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Fullname: Kelechi Promise Iheanacho
aka: Kelechi Iheanacho, Kels
Born: 3 October 1996
Birthplace: Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Signed: 1 September 2025 (free, 1 year contract)
Left: 31 May 2026 (end of contract)
Position: Centre-forward
Debut: Kilmarnock 1-2 Celtic, League, 14 Sep 2025
Squad No.: 17
Internationals: […]
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
At Celtic, and possibly in all of football, there has likely never been a player who, in one season, overcame as many low expectations with unlikely outcomes as Iheanacho did during the tumultuous 2025/26 campaign. He became perhaps the most unexpected cult hero since Paul Hartley in 2007/08.
Season 2026/27
“If he can get a rhythm…”
Joe Hart on Iheancho (Sep 2025)
First, there has unlikely ever been a player whose arrival at Celtic was as inauspicious as Iheanacho’s. The summer 2025 transfer window was deemed the most disorganised and disastrous to date, with Celtic failing to strengthen the squad and instead being gazumped in their attempt to sign their first-choice striker. Even snubbed by another free agent, Celtic scrambled after the window closed and settled for Rodgers’ old charge from Leicester: Iheanacho. Unsurprisingly, the support was irate, and the environment around the club was tense, with fans up in arms at the mismanagement that put the board under the cosh.
None of this was Iheanacho’s fault, but his recent record (or lack thereof) did little to inspire confidence. However, ex-Celt Joe Hart—who himself was cast aside before enjoying a golden period at Celtic—spoke positively and confidently about him. Hart remarked that he believed his former Manchester City colleague could be a success “if he can get a rhythm”.
On his debut, Iheanacho came on as a substitute away to Kilmarnock (Sep 2025) with Celtic heading towards dropping points and chasing a winner. A penalty was awarded to Celtic by VAR (correctly), and everyone was debating who should take it—only for Iheanacho to step up. There’s no denying that most Celtic fans gasped when he walked up, but he dispatched a decent penalty to score the winner and get off the mark. He deserved respect for that. He had already taken a lot of flak before his first kick for Celtic, but now the fans were all over him at the end of the match, scenes he could only have dreamt of a week earlier. Given that the Celtic support had begun another revolt over recent mismanagement, it was quite a pressure-point moment, and you can’t understate the importance of the goal. If Celtic had dropped points, the impact would have been magnified.
He then scored the opener in a 1-1 draw in the opening Europa League group match against Red Star Belgrade (Sep 2025), and every sceptic was eating their words.
However, there’s no denying that his lack of conditioning and injuries meant he struggled to maintain that form. He soon entered a fallow period, struggling for goals in an admittedly under-performing Celtic side, with recurring injuries pushing him out of the picture until the first quarter of the season.
The loss of his main sponsor, manager Brendan Rodgers, so soon after his own arrival, was likely a blow for Iheanacho, who needed stability. The only benefit was that there was little competition for the lead striker role, with only Johnny Kenny—until the January window—the main challenger.
The big hit came in the League Cup Final, a humiliating defeat in the early days of the disastrous Wilfried Nancy’s managerial reign, with Iheanacho forced off after 30 minutes due to a hamstring injury. Frustratingly, he had been key and excellent in the first half, after which Celtic were a shadow of themselves. Iheanacho’s frustration was clear as he booted the door on his way to the locker room. At least he could hold his head high, and many—despite the humiliating result—had a newfound respect for him. He held the ball up well, provided the key assist for Celtic’s goal, made life difficult for St Mirren, and clearly provided a physicality that Celtic lacked.
As Celtic struggled through the season to score goals, his reputation grew in his absence. He was much in demand by the support due to a desperation for any striker (as evidenced by the fact that, at the end of the season, Celtic were behind Hearts and TheRangers in goals scored, with Celtic’s total a far cry from the previous campaign). Yet, over and over, his recurring injuries hampered his opportunities.
It was no easy case for him, especially as he had the difficulty each time of trying to prove himself to new managers, with a rotating door of Rodgers, Martin O’Neill, Nancy, and then a returning O’Neill. For a player fighting time against his side, it was a hopeless situation.
When Celtic entered a key run of games in Mar 2026, Iheanacho was absent, with many once again wondering why he was not even in the squad—especially as Celtic were behind on goal difference and desperate to catch up with both Hearts and Sevco. Next thing you know, after a difficult 2-2 away draw at Sevco (Mar 2026), he posted on his Instagram a picture of himself training down south with others. It misleadingly appeared that his time at Celtic was over, to the surprise of everyone.
On his return, he continued to feature, and despite a poor performance in a 2-1 defeat to Dundee United (Mar 2026), he helped keep Celtic in the league title race with the winning goal against Dundee (2-1, Apr 2026) in what was an abject display until he came on. Martin O’Neill, after the match, noted his confidence in him:
“I’ve had a chat with him to say that he’s been a really fine player in his career and he should be, at 29, at the peak of his career.”
In truth, the manager had no other choice but to hope and rely on Iheanacho by that stage, as Čvancara was not producing any real form, and there were no other strikers of note, with even Maeda still not finding his feet. When on form, Iheanacho had a good touch, physicality that put fear into opposition defences, and good link-up play with intelligent movement. He had a natural instinct for when to hold the ball up or give and go, and a coolness in front of goal, proving what a difference he could make.
From there on, he hit the form he was desperate to show. First, he came on late as a substitute against St Mirren (6-2, Apr 2026) and helped turn the game around, scoring twice in extra time—one of the goals a world-class effort into the corner of the net in a game Celtic looked set to squander (incredible as it sounds when you read the scoreline). The result boosted a squad that had been under pressure to score goals.
In the play-off split games, in which Celtic had to win every single match to have a realistic chance of winning the league title—having been seen as third in the race behind league leaders Hearts and momentum-building TheRangers—Iheanacho really came into his own. Although he had struggled to convince manager Martin O’Neill over his fitness levels throughout the season, he still proved influential from the bench when available during key moments of the title race. There was always a fear and risk of playing Iheanacho from the start, in case he suffered another long-term injury as in the League Cup Final. This didn’t help when Čvancara was lost to injury, reducing Celtic’s options down to Iheanacho.
He scored the winner against Hibs, popping in the winning goal just moments after coming off the bench in a match that felt like it was getting away from Celtic (2-1, May 2026). He then had possibly the most intense, pressure-filled moment of his career. Against Motherwell, Celtic needed to win or the league title challenge was over. With seconds remaining, Celtic were awarded a penalty (correctly, despite what the partisan media claimed) by VAR. This had to be converted, with no time left for anything else. With steely confidence and as cool as a cucumber, he scored the penalty at the death against Motherwell, sending the entire Celtic support, squad, and management into raptures. He could never have imagined such moments when he arrived.
Into the do-or-die title decider against Hearts, Celtic were toiling, needing a victory to take the league title (3-1, May 2026). Lacking physicality and any serious attacking threat, Iheanacho was brought on, and the impact was obvious to all. He was unfortunate to see a curling shot in the build-up to the winner agonisingly come off the post, but it added to the pressure on Hearts, which ultimately led to Maeda’s winner. In the last minute, Hearts had a final chance with a free kick to cross into the box, but a poor effort rebounded to Hearts—only for Iheanacho to block their last attacking opportunity, with McGregor than passing the rebound on to send Osmand on to score the decisive third goal.
Iheanacho had made himself a hero, helping and pushing Celtic to unfathomably win the league title against the odds.
To seal his season, he scored the final goal in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline (3-1, May 2026), rounding three players and the goalkeeper with some deft footwork that was a joy to watch.
It was some season for him, and he deserved every ounce of praise that came his way. Notably, many may have pinned a lot of blame on Rodgers for this season, but ironically Iheancho as Rodgers’ last hope, who was the one who kept Celtic in the title race. Too often undervalued along the way, but due praise was given at the end of the season.
He was expected to return to Celtic for the next season, but when the pre-season training started, his absence was noticed, all being put down to the contract negotations underway. Martin O’Neill clearly wanted him back stating:
“If the club were to keep him, then it’s really to do with a proper pre-season for him, a real proper pre-season. I think he would benefit greatly from that, getting three or four weeks’ work into him before the season starts – which I think he needs, obviously.”
However, he turned Celtic down for Bursaspor, who had won the TFF Second League last season, have announced the signing of Iheanacho and paraded him in their own green and white hoops! Bursapor offered him a 3 year deal, but with his injury record it was prudent for Celtic to not match that. Some reports claimed Ihenacho was offered a bumper salary deal, others countered this. Whatever the case, he had now moved on, and Celtic had to restart their search for another striker.
We wished him the best.
Post-Celtic
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Quotes
“There’s a player in him, and as much as Celtic want to bring in young talent from around the world and nurse them, develop them and then sell them for great profit, there’s also room for people like Kelechi. He’s a little bit younger than I was but didn’t have a good 12 months previous to coming here. But my quality was there, and I know the quality’s there with Kelechi.”
Joe Hart (Sep 2025)
“He was barely in the game, but when the big moment came, Iheanacho strolled up and put it in.”
Chris Sutton on Iheanacho scoring the winner on his debut, 2-1 v Kilmarnock (Sep 2025)
“Kelechi’s heart rate, I don’t think ever gets above 60 beats per minute.“How long he let that ball come down to his foot – it felt like time stopped. But that’s Kels.”
Johnston (May 2026)
“Obviously you do the maths around what we would have had to do at the weekend, but credit to him (Iheanacho). He’s a big personality, a big player who steps up in the big moments and gets us over the line. Now it’s in our own hands.'”
Callum McGregor after Iheancho’s penalty winner (May 2026)
“If the club were to keep him, then it’s really to do with a proper pre-season for him, a real proper pre-season.I think he would benefit greatly from that, getting three or four weeks’ work into him before the season starts – which I think he needs, obviously.”
O’Neil on Iheanacho (May 2026)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2025-26 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 24 |
| Goals | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
Scottish Cup
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Articles
Rodgers says Celtic fans ‘will love’ striker Iheanacho
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd7y7w300weo
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates with SevillaImage source, Getty Images
Kelechi Iheanacho spent a year with Sevilla
Published
2 September 2025, 23:18 BST
Updated 7 minutes ago
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Kelechi Iheanacho “will make a big contribution” after beating the Europa League signing deadline to secure the Nigeria striker as a free agent.
The 28-year-old Nigeria international’s arrival on a one-year contract comes 24 hours after he came to an agreement with Sevilla to terminate his deal with the Spanish club.
It also comes after Celtic came under fire from their supporters for their failure to sign a striker on transfer deadline day.
Rodgers has turned to someone he managed during the striker’s seven-year spell with Leicester City.
“He is such a talented player, with great ability, athleticism and work-rate,” he told Celtic’s website.
“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.”
Iheanacho, capped 59 times, started his senior career with Manchester City, picking up a League Cup winner’s medal during his time at the Etihad.
He then joined Leicester City, was an FA Cup winner in 2021 and helped his country to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Iheanacho moved to Sevilla last summer before spending the end of season on loan with English Championship side Middlesbrough.
Welcome to Celtic, Kelechi Iheanacho
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/september/02/welcome-to-celtic–kelechi-iheanacho/
First Team
By Celtic Football Club
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02 Sep 2025, 11:03 pm
Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Kelechi Iheanacho on a one-year deal, subject to international clearance, with the club having the option of a further year.
The 28-year-old Nigerian forward spent two years with Manchester City at the start of his professional career, and he picked up a League Cup winner’s medal during his time at the Etihad.
He then joined Leicester City and would go on to make over 200 appearances there. In his time at Leicester, he worked under Brendan Rodgers and was an FA Cup winner in 2021.
In 2024, Kelechi moved to Spanish side, Sevilla before spending the end of season 2024/25 on loan with English Championship side, Middlesbrough.
He has racked up almost 60 international caps for Nigeria throughout his career so far, and helped his country to a second place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said: “I know Kelechi so well and 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.”
Kelechi Iheanacho: I’m here to fight for silverware with Celtic
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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04 Sep 2025, 2:00 pm
On Tuesday night it was announced that Celtic had signed Kelechi Iheanacho on a one-year deal, with the club having the option of a further year.
Today, for the first time since joining the Hoops, the Nigerian forward spoke about his joy at joining the Scottish Champions and linking up again with Brendan Rodgers.
He said: “I’m excited to be a Celtic player and I’m feeling really good about it. Celtic is a massive club and I’ve been following them for a long time.
“I’m happy to be a part of that now and hopefully it’ll be a great season.
“I’m looking forward to fighting for silverware with Celtic. In England, I won trophies so hopefully I can be a winner with Celtic as well.
“I can’t wait to be a part of all of it and I’m very confident that I can bring a lot to the team.”
The 28-year-old forward spent time with Manchester City early in his career before moving to Leicester City where he went on to win the FA Cup during Brendan Rodgers’ time as manager there.
Iheanacho’s move to Celtic sees him not only reunite with Brendan Rodgers again, but also with Kasper Schmeichel, who was part of that successful Leicester side.
And the Nigerian internationalist says he’s looking forward to reconnecting with his former colleagues as he looked ahead to experiencing Celtic Park as a Hoops player.
Kelechi added: “I’m really happy to be working with Brendan again. He’s a great man and a great coach with a good personality, and I’m happy to be playing under him again. The gaffer knows me and he knows what I can offer, so I just can’t wait to get going.
“When I was at Leicester, I used to sit next to Kasper in the changing room, so I’ll be happy to see him again. It’s been a long time, so I’m looking forward to speaking to him again.
“I was on the bench for Manchester City at Celtic Park back in 2016. It was a cold night but it was such a massive atmosphere! The Celtic fans are incredible and I can’t wait to play for them now.
“I’ll always give my best for the fans. I can’t wait to share good times with them and play good football.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said: “I know Kelechi so well and 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.”
Joe Hart praises Iheanacho – “I know the quality’s there with Kelechi”
Joe Hart praises Iheanacho – “I know the quality’s there with Kelechi”
By Conor Spence 9 September, 2025 No Comments
Kelechi Iheanacho
Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Leicester City at Vitality Stadium on February 27, 2024. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart feels Kelechi Iheanacho has the potential to make a “special” impact at the Hoops, as long as he shows his true ability…
The forward joined the Scottish champions on a free transfer after the summer window closed and the club were scrambling about for a striker.
Hart, who enjoyed three trophy-laden seasons with Celtic, shared the pitch with Iheanacho during their time at Manchester City. Following Saturday’s legends clash between his Celtic and Manchester United at Celtic Park, the retired goalkeeper revealed his thoughts on the transfer.
Hart even likened Iheanacho’s move to Celtic to the transfer he made himself in 2021 when Ange Postecoglou came calling.
Speaking at Celtic Park at the charity match at the weekend via Daily Record, Hart said: “We’ve all had disappointing 12 months in our careers. Very few haven’t, and certainly striker-wise.”
“But those 12 months don’t define you, it’s the previous work he’s put in. Coming over, getting that contract and a chance at Manchester City, gets a great move to Leicester City.”
Hart added: “There’s a player in him, and as much as Celtic want to bring in young talent from around the world and nurse them, develop them and then sell them for great profit, there’s also room for people like Kelechi.”
“He’s a little bit younger than I was but didn’t have a good 12 months previous to coming here. But my quality was there, and I know the quality’s there with Kelechi.”
“It’s just if he wants to be in the room, whether he wants to put it in,” Hart said. “But Brendan knows him, and it’s such a nice feeling to walk in when you know the coach and you know what he expects of you. You can have some real truthful conversations.”
“So if he can bring that to the table then he can find himself a special home when he’s been a bit lost for a couple of months.”
Conor Spence
Brendan Rodgers claims Celtic have star on hands as he has say on unity and Michael Nicholson meeting
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
Published 14th Sep 2025, 18:34 BST
Iheanacho shows his nerve to score winner for champions
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes Kelechi Iheanacho can become a star player for the club after the striker netted a stoppage-time penalty to ensure a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock.
Iheanacho arrived a day after the transfer deadline on a free and came on as a 70th-minute replacement for Daizen Maeda, who had earlier opened the scoring for Celtic. However, Kilmarnock looked to have earned a point when David Watson headed home on 82 minutes, only for a controversial penalty award for a handball against Lewis Mayo in added-on time allowed the Nigerian hitman to coolly convert and send Celtic back to the top of the table.
With usual penalty taker Arne Engels on the bench, Rodgers hailed Iheanacho’s courage to take it, saying that he wanted him to strike it rather than Benjamin Nygren, who had also shown an interest in hitting it.
The Celtic boss has worked with Iheanacho in the past and had no doubt he would be able to handle the magnitude of the moment. And now he expects the former Leicester and Man City player to kick on at Parkhead.
“I was really pleased with Kels,” said Rodgers. “I think the last penalty he took was for me at Wembley, when we beat Man City in the Community Shield. And I think that’s a big moment for him, with the supporters and everything else. He’s still got to score it, and we scored it, and then he took the win.
“There’s no doubt he’s got big moments in him, and once he gets fitter, he’s only going to get better. Our penalty taker has been off the pitch. I think Benji wanted the penalty and had the confidence, which is great. But my message was for Kels, I know what he brings, I know the confidence he brings, and I also know what a goal will do for him.”
Rodgers now hopes for some Celtic unity
Rodgers was pleased to negotiate what has been a tricky venue for Celtic in the past amid protests from some supporters who did not enter Rugby Park until the 12th minute. They wanted to visibly show their frustration at the board for what they deem to be poor recruitment and spending at the club.
“That’s what this club is about, and that feeling and that Celtic spirit that keeps you going,” Rodgers said of the players’ jubilant celebration at the end with the supporters. “I’m delighted for the players, first and foremost, because like I said, all eyes on them today.
“It was a difficult surface, everything we know about Kilmarnock, a difficult team to play against, but to come out and get the win and, as I said, get that feeling [of unity]. And I’ve been here often enough, like some of the senior players, to know the importance of a win like that, even early in the season. It’s an important victory.”
Rodgers was asked how his meeting with chief executive Michael Nicholson went on Friday after a fiery press conference in which the Celtic manager once again lamented the club’s transfer business and called for an investigation into which member of the hierarchy briefed against him to a national newspaper.
“Listen, Michael’s a good man,” explained Rodgers. “He’s a good man. I have a really good relationship with him and Chris [McKay, chief finance office], because they’re the guys that I deal with day-to-day. So, yes, we all know what it is we need to assess and look at and be better at.
“You look at Sebastian [Tounekti] today. We have him in, and when we wanted to have him in, it could be a different spot for us. Outstanding he was. So these are all things that we need to find clarity on and be better at. But in the meantime, the concentration is on football.”
Kelechi Iheanacho adds so much to the Celtic attack
By justanordinarybhoy 25 September, 2025 No Comments
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates
Red Star Belgrade 1-1 Celtic. Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates his goal Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic https://thecelticstar.com/kelechi-iheanacho-adds-so-much-to-the-celtic-attack/Iheanacho has already added so much to our attack. In some ways he’s very reminiscent of a certain Odsonne Edouard…
It was fair to say that Kelechi Iheanacho wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms when he arrived as a free agent after the debacle of a transfer window, but surely even his biggest critics will now be busy gulping down spoonfuls of humble pie?
To be fair most of the criticism was aimed at the board rather than the player himself, but even so those of us who were willing to give him a chance will be feeling very vindicated.
Kelechi of course showed his class on his debut against Kilmarnock by calmly slotting away an injury time spot kick, and followed that up with an impressive display in the 4-0 premier sports cup rout of Partick Thistle at Firhill.
The Nigerian international further endeared himself to the supporters by scoring a fine goal against Red Star on Wednesday evening after replacing the ineffective Daizen Maeda at the interval in Belgrade, as he showed there are more to his game than just goals.
It may not have come as a surprise to Brendan Rodgers or those who closely studied his attributes after signing, that Iheanacho possess terrific movement, speed and ability on the ball to go along with his predatory instincts in front of goal.
In many ways he’s quite reminiscent of a certain Odsonne Edouard and French Eddie was a firm favourite with the supporters during his time at the club.
If Kelechi turns out to be as good or if dare I say it, better than Edouard then we are indeed onto a winner. Saturday sees Celtic back in Paradise for the first time in ages and the home support will get the chance to see our new signings in action with Kelechi Iheanacho likely to lead the line and we’ll also see Sebastian Tounekti out on that left wing. Both players are set to get a magnificent reception give their recent exploits in away games.
There’s bound to be some protest chants towards the board – and no wonder – but we mustn’t forget the team, they deserve our 100% backing from start to finish. Looking forward to it already.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy