Celtic news: Kieran Tierney returns to Celtic Park after Arsenal departure
Kieran Tierney has officially left Arsenal after six years and 144 appearances for the club.
The Scotsman moved to North London in 2019 for £25million and quickly established himself as an important part of the squad, making 15 appearances in his first season, before going on to play an important part in the 2020 Arsenal squad that won the FA Cup.
The 28-year-old fell out of favour with boss Mikel Arteta last season and joined LaLiga outfit Real Sociedad on loan.
Following the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly this campaign, and with the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of him, Tierney has struggled for minutes.
During his time at boyhood club Celtic, the Scottish international enjoyed great success, winning 10 trophies, including three successive domestic trebles.
Kieran Tierney happy to be back
Kieran Tierney back in a Celtic shirt.
In an interview with Celtic’s website, Tierney emphasised the huge pull manager Brendan Rodgers had in his decision to return to Glasgow.
He said: “I spoke with the manager, and obviously I had worked with him before, and I’ve always kept in touch with him.
“He’s one of the best, so I’m so lucky and grateful that he’s given me the chance to come back again.”
The Scotsman also spoke of how his time away from the club has helped him develop on and off the pitch.
“When you move away from home, you grow up, you learn different things,” he said, “I was in Spain for a year, learning a different language and playing in a different league, so I’m definitely a different person.
“My ambition is just for Celtic to be as successful as possible, retain our place at the top and continue to win trophies and do well for Celtic.”
Rodgers also commented on the left-back’s homecoming and was full of praise.
The former Liverpool boss said: “Kieran has always had Celtic in his blood and he is excited to be coming back to the place he loves.
“He is someone who has given so much to Celtic already, and I know he is so motivated and hungry to help the club bring more and more success to our fans.
“We are so pleased to bring such an elite player back to the club, and I look forward to working with him again and the rest of the squad, as we face the many challenges ahead at home and in Europe.”
Tierney ultimately returns to Celtic intending to add to the 10 trophies and 170 appearances he made for the side.
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