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Fullname: Luke McCowan
aka: –
Born: 9 December 1997
Birthplace: Greenock, Scotland
Signed: 30 August 2024 (from Dundee)
Left: –
Position: Midfielder, Winger
Debut: Celtic 3-0 TheRangers, SP, 1 Sep 2024
Squad No.: 14
Internationals: […]
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
If ever a person during the past generation or two had won a more surprise move to Celtic than Dundee’s first team captain Luke McCowan, then this site would be surprised. Luke McCowan was transferred to Celtic from Dundee, having spent his time at Ayr Utd and Dundee, mostly in the lower tiers, with only two full seasons in the top tier. Whilst at Ayr, he actually was also working as a lifeguard at Waterfront Leisure Complex. So earning a transfer to Celtic at the relatively mature age of 26 was unfathomable, he was clearly not one for the future for development, so whenever he was to win opportunities, he had to hit the ground running. Coming in at same time as some major transfer signings (e.g. Valle on loan from Barcelona, Engels for a record £11m), McCowan was (to put it politely) a very frugal transfer in.
Season 2024/25
For a boyhood Celtic fan, it was a dream move especially as Celtic were very bouyant at this time, heading to play in the Champions League and clear favourites to retain the league title. To make it even more incredible, he was subbed on late for his debut in a 3-0 win over TheRangers at Celtic Park (Aug 2024). He scored his debut goal in the following match to seal a 2-0 win v Hearts in the league at Celtic Park. For a guy who probably never thought he’d get the chance to play for the team he loves, how incredible it must have been for his family to experience all this.
The greatest compliment you could give was that from the off he never looked out of place in the Celtic first team! He was clearly the most cost effective player bought for at least a generation. Problem was that the competition in the squad for places in the first team meant he was often in and out the side, despite the excellent contributions he consistently made. Constant squad rotation meant he was regularly given gametime.
Mostly used as a substitute, he still gained substantial gametime, and always gave his all whenever he came onto the park. Battling it out against some of the quality in the squad was never going to be easy, but appeared he was settled to accept a squad place like fellow Celt Tony Ralston.
A dream debut season he could never have believed would ever happen in his life, winning a league medal, playing in the Champions League with Celtic, and becoming a respected part of the squad.
Season 2025/26
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Quotes
“Knowing that there is a huge group of family & friends who cannot believe that their son/brother/cousin/mate/whatever has signed for their club after thinking that he’d never get the chance makes this the move of the window. We may sign better players but this is one is about us.”
Celticunderground @celticrumours on Twitter (Aug 2024)
“I just need to go and prove now on the pitch especially that i deserve to be here and show the fans what I’ve got.”
Luke McCowan (Aug 2024)
“I’m ready to get to work and to show that I’m a player that can play for this club!”
Luke McCowan (Aug 2024)
“Stuff of dreams really… It’s about stepping up and knowing that I’m here for a reason.”
Luke McCowan reacts to making his Celtic debut in 3-0 win over Rangers (Sep 2024)
“For Luke [McCowan], a real special moment to score your first goal when you’re a Celtic supporter. To get that applause from the crowd, a real special day.”
Brendan Rodgers on Luke McCowan’s debut goal in 2-0 win v Hearts at Celtic Park (Sep 2024)
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Playing Career
[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2024-25 | 34 | 4 | – | 3 | 41 |
| Goals | 6 | 1 | – | 0 | 7 |
| 2025-26 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| 2026-27 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| 2027-28 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Goals |
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
- 2024-25, […]
Scottish Cup
- […]
Scottish League Cup
- […]
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Articles
Luke McCowan: Celtic is everything I’ve imagined
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2024/september/09/luke-mccowan–celtic-is-everything-i-ve-imagined/
By Joe Sullivan
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09 Sep 2024, 5:10 pm
The international break tends to be a departure from the norm at Celtic, with so many of the club’s players off representing their countries.
However, for new Bhoy, Luke McCowan, the past week has still been a bit of a whirlwind for the 26-year-old following his transfer deadline day move to the Hoops.
To put things into perspective, he was a Dundee player when he watched the UEFA Champions League draw, and he was a Celtic player by the time fixtures were actually released about 36 hours later.
And the day after that, the midfielder was making his Celtic debut – in a 3-0 derby day win no less.
So when asked how the week has gone since then, he answered: “Probably a bit hectic as you can imagine, but really, really smoothly, though, even if it has been hectic.
“The boys and the staff and everybody at the club have been unbelievable with me.
‘It’s been something that I dreamed of as wee boy, coming here and getting the chance to play for this club, it’s everything I could have imagined so far.’
“There’s a lot of hard work, of course, but the week’s been good and everything’s going smoothly.”
The Greenock Bhoy is living the dream as a Hoops player, his debut couldn’t have been sweeter and he was level-headed about what he took from the derby.
He said: “A lot of trust from the manager was the main thing. After the game I thanked him for putting that trust in me.
“It was incredible, coming on to a noise like that was amazing.
“But it was just another game really and I knew that I had to go on and be concentrated, and try to make as few mistakes as possible after getting about four hours’ sleep, which wasn’t the best’
“But you know your job and when you’re in the environment, it’s serious mode on. You don’t really think you’re a fan, or on cloud nine, it’s just the hard work starting and that’s the kind of mind-set to go on.”
There will be a lot to play for over the coming weeks and months, and McCowan is being practical about his personal goals in the Hoops.
He said: “Early doors you just want to play as many minutes as you can. The standard in here is the best in the country, it’s a Champions League team.
“I just know that it takes a lot of hard work to get into the team, I know it takes a lot of hard work to push players for their places, and that’s what I want to do in the future.
“It’s about learning right now, finding my feet and doing the usual stuff when you go to a new team – that will be the mind-set just now.”
Luke McCowan in action
Playing for a Champions League team means the high possibility of playing Champions League games, and that is something that could happen for the new Bhoy as early as next week.
He said: “That’s a bit surreal. This year I’ll probably get a lot of first-time things happening at the club – like making my debut, and if I get a chance to play in a Champions League game then that’s another big milestone in my career.”