Kelechi Iheanacho: Nigeria striker joins Bursaspor on free transfer from Celtic

Nigeria forward Kelechi Iheanacho has joined Bursaspor on a free transfer from Celtic. The 29-year-old centre-forward moves to the Turkish 1.Lig side after helping the Glasgow club to a domestic double last season.

Iheanacho arrives in Bursa with extensive experience across Europe’s major competitions. He has made 196 Premier League appearances in his career, scoring 42 goals and providing 27 assists, and has featured in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. He is also noted for his FA Cup record, with 18 goals in 25 matches.

The left-footed striker, who stands at 1.85m, joined Celtic from Sevilla in September 2025, also on a free transfer. During his single season in Scotland he contributed to Celtic winning both the league title and the Scottish Cup, adding to an already substantial medal collection.

Earlier in his career, Iheanacho won the FA Cup and Community Shield with Leicester City, having moved there from Manchester City in 2017 in a deal worth €27.7m. He was also part of the Leicester squad that secured promotion as Championship winners in 2023-24. At Manchester City he lifted the League Cup and gained his first experience of top-level European competition.

On the international stage, Iheanacho first came to prominence with Nigeria’s Under-17s, winning the Under-17 World Cup and being named best young player at the tournament in 2013. His current move gives Bursaspor a proven top-flight centre-forward on a free transfer as they prepare for the new 1.Lig campaign.