Kelechi Iheanacho Joins Bursaspor After Leaving Celtic

Kelechi Iheanacho turned his back on a new Celtic deal and pushed through a move to Bursaspor, insisting he told his agent to “do everything possible” to make the transfer happen.

The 29-year-old Nigeria striker had only joined Celtic in September on a one-year contract after leaving Sevilla, following a loan spell with Middlesbrough. Celtic held an option to extend his stay by a further year, but allowed the deadline to pass before manager Martin O’Neill made clear he still wanted the forward to remain at the club and had offered fresh terms.

By then, Iheanacho’s mind was elsewhere.

While the Scottish champions looked to keep him in Glasgow, Bursaspor moved with intent. Fresh from winning the TFF Second League last season and chasing back-to-back promotions to return to the Turkish Super Lig, the Turkish side sold him a different kind of project: a leading role in a club on the rise.

Iheanacho embraced it.

He joined Bursaspor last week and, speaking in his first interview with his new club, laid out exactly how determined he had been to make the move happen, explaining that he had instructed his agent to prioritise Bursaspor despite Celtic’s offer.

His reasoning was simple and direct. The Nigerian forward spoke of his happiness and excitement at the switch, and underlined the stature of his new employers, saying Bursaspor is a big club in Turkey and recalling that he knew they had previously been champions of the Turkish Super Lig.

For Celtic, it is a case of an opportunity missed. For Bursaspor, it is a statement of ambition as they chase a rapid return to the top flight with a striker who has chosen their climb over the comfort of a champion’s jersey.