In a significant development for Celtic FC, Canadian defender Alistair Johnston has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract that extends his stay until 2029. This announcement, made on November 22, 2024, has been met with enthusiasm from both the club’s management and its supporters.
Johnston, 26, joined Celtic in January 2023 from CF Montreal. Since his arrival, he has become an integral part of the team’s defense, making 79 appearances and contributing six goals. His consistent performances have not only solidified his position within the squad but have also endeared him to the Celtic faithful.
Expressing his delight at the contract extension, Johnston stated, “I am just delighted to extend my contract with Celtic. I got a brilliant welcome to the club in 2022 and ever since I have had the best of times, loving every minute as part of such a great institution and I wanted to continue to be part of that.” He further emphasized his commitment to the club’s future ambitions, saying, “It’s an absolute honour to pull that famous jersey on every week and to have achieved so much success with my team-mates already has been so satisfying. But of course, we want more and that is our focus.”
Celtic’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, also expressed his satisfaction with the new deal. He praised Johnston’s contributions, noting, “In a relatively short period of time he has established himself as a fantastic player for Celtic, showing real quality and just delivering performance after performance for us, week in, week out.” Rodgers highlighted Johnston’s “phenomenal work ethic and attitude, brilliant hunger and positivity, such an honest love for the game and a real desire to improve in everything he does.”
Johnston’s journey to Celtic began after an impressive showing at the 2022 World Cup, which caught the attention of the club’s scouts. His transition to European football has been seamless, and he has quickly adapted to the demands of the Scottish Premiership. His defensive prowess, combined with his ability to contribute offensively, has made him a valuable asset to the team.
This contract extension reflects Celtic’s strategy of securing the futures of key players as they continue to build a squad capable of sustained success. Johnston’s commitment is seen as a positive step towards achieving the club’s long-term goals.
In summary, Alistair Johnston’s new contract with Celtic FC until 2029 underscores his importance to the team and his dedication to contributing to the club’s future successes. Both the player and the management are optimistic about what lies ahead, with a shared focus on achieving more in the coming years.
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