Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has expressed confidence in Kelechi Iheanacho’s ability to succeed at the club.
Iheanacho, 28, joined the Hoops this summer on a one-year deal, with the option of extending for a further year at the end of the campaign.
The Nigerian forward arrives at the Scottish champions as a free agent following the termination of his contract at Sevilla just a year after joining the club.
The 28-year-old moved to Spain at the beginning of the 2024/25 season after he left Leicester City when his contract expired.
He failed to adapt to a new environment and made few appearances in the Spanish La Liga before he moved to Middlesbrough on loan six months later.
“Thankfully at the end of the window there was a player that was available that I know very well”, the former Liverpool manager revealed.
“Kel was a player that was brilliant for me at Leicester. I only want to take someone here who was robust and he’s a genuine talent.”
Iheanacho struggled to rediscover his form while on loan and returned to Sevilla in the summer.
He had enjoyed previous success at Manchester City and Leicester City in England, and will now hope to return to his best under his former manager.
The Super Eagles star enjoyed the best goalscoring league campaign of his career under Rodgers at Leicester and will be hopeful of repeating the feat in his first season at Celtic.
“And if I can get that out of him again it could be a big plus for us. So we lost Adam. Adam made a really good contribution here”, the Celtics manager continued.
Iheanacho could make his bow for the defending champions when they travel to face Kilmarnock in a Scottish Premier League match on Sunday.
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