“He’s got quality and can bring goals” – Joe Hart backs Iheanacho’s move to Celtic

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart has thrown his weight behind Kelechi Iheanacho, expressing confidence that the Nigerian striker will rediscover his best form at Celtic following his deadline-day switch.

Iheanacho’s move to Scotland comes after a frustrating spell at Sevilla, whom he joined on a free transfer from Leicester City.

Now reunited with former manager Brendan Rodgers, the 28-year-old is being tipped to make a big impact in the Scottish Premiership.

Hart, who shared a dressing room with Iheanacho during their time at Manchester City, believes the striker has all the tools to thrive at Parkhead.

“He’s coming into a winning dressing room, with a winning mentality. A club can’t really prepare anyone for that. I’m not saying it will shock him,” Hart explained.

“But there’s no point in any words from me. He needs to feel it to understand it. He’ll have a great leader in the dressing room in terms of Callum McGregor. He’s obviously got Brendan, John Kennedy and the coaching staff.

“You can be welcomed when you go through the dressing room door, but it’s about, how much do you want it? How much do you want to make this place your home? Because if he really wants it, he’s got the quality and can bring goals to this club.”

The veteran shot-stopper went further to highlight Iheanacho’s clinical finishing ability.

“He’s so calm when finishing. His left foot is very hard to read, he plants his right foot, he can open up or reverse. Brendan knows how to get the best out of him. If he can find his rhythm and fitness Celtic could have a really top striker.

“He’s a natural finisher when his eye is in. Like any striker, it can look quite difficult when they are not in a rhythm, but Kelechi will be given the support,” Hart reiterated.

Iheanacho, who missed out on the Super Eagles squad for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, is currently training to regain full fitness. His Celtic debut is expected after the international break, as he looks to kick-start a new chapter in his career with the Scottish champions.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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