Scottish champions Celtic F.C. are expected to make a final decision on the future of Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho before the end of June, according to reports from the Mirror.
Iheanacho joined Celtic as a free agent in September 2025 after mutually terminating his contract with Spanish side Sevilla FC. His spell in Spain proved difficult, as he struggled to regain top form and failed to make a major impact, even during a loan stint at Championship club Middlesbrough F.C.. This ultimately led Sevilla to agree to an early contract termination.
The 29-year-old forward, formerly of Leicester City F.C., experienced something of a revival at Celtic Park, contributing important goals as the Glasgow side secured a domestic double.
Despite that impact, his long-term future remains uncertain. His current contract is due to expire at the end of June 2026, and although Celtic hold an option to extend his deal by a further year, the club has not yet activated it due to concerns over his fitness.
Manager Martin O’Neill is expected to make a definitive decision on Iheanacho’s situation before the end of the month. While the striker has often been used as an impact substitute, he started only four league matches during the campaign.
For his part, Iheanacho is understood to be open to staying in Glasgow, where he believes he can continue rebuilding his career and recapture the form that once made him one of Nigeria’s most promising attacking talents.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
