Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho has opted against signing a contract extension with Celtic, choosing instead to join Bursaspor. The Turkish side recently earned promotion to the second division of the country’s football pyramid.
The 29-year-old striker was offered a new deal by the Scottish Premiership champions following his contributions to their successful domestic double campaign, which was hampered by periods of injury. Bursaspor, current TFF Second League champions, officially introduced Iheanacho to their supporters.
This move arrives amid challenges for Celtic in the transfer market, as CEO Michael Nicholson recently admitted that competing with high-spending English Championship teams has complicated their recruitment efforts. Currently, the club has only secured one new addition this summer, Colombian forward Camilo Duran.
Celtic face a thin roster at centre-forward, particularly with Daizen Maeda entering the final year of his deal. Iheanacho, formerly of Manchester City and Leicester City, arrived at Celtic from Sevilla in 2025. Despite a hamstring injury that limited his starts after October, he netted nine goals last season, including six vital strikes as a substitute during the team’s late-season winning streak.
