Out-of-contract Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is currently in talks with Scottish champions Celtic following his official departure from Sevilla, where his contract was mutually terminated. Iheanacho, a product of the Manchester City academy, had joined Sevilla last summer on a deal until June 2026 but left after making just eleven appearances, scoring three goals, largely in Copa del Rey matches. The 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner had also spent part of last season on loan at Middlesbrough.
Celtic have shown keen interest and are set to resume negotiations with Iheanacho, aiming to reunite him with manager Brendan Rodgers, under whom Iheanacho flourished at Leicester City, tallying 43 goals and 25 assists in 143 games. The Nigerian striker is now a free agent and available for signing outside the transfer window.
Despite the ongoing club developments, Iheanacho has been omitted from Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa. Celtic’s pursuit of Iheanacho signals their intent to bolster their attacking options, especially after letting Adam Idah leave and missing out on other transfer targets. The potential signing is seen as a strategic move to add experience and goal-scoring prowess to the squad.
This transfer story comes amid other Nigerian footballers’ career moves, such as Tolu Arokodare’s recent high-profile £24 million move to Wolverhampton Wanderers from Genk and Cyriel Dessers joining Greek club Panathinaikos, illustrating a dynamic period for Nigerian players in European football.
