Kieran Tierney: What player are Celtic getting six years after his exit?

Kieran Tierney is back with Celtic. Following his Arsenal exit, the defender will wear his beloved green and white hoops once again.

But, away from the romance and hysteria of the Scotland international’s stunning return, what player is Brendan Rodgers actually getting six years after his move to London?

First and foremost, Celtic are getting a hell of a left-back on a five-year contract.

Although Tierney was far from first pick at Arsenal, the fact Mikel Arteta used him in 20 games just last term shows the Spaniard feels the Scot is still good enough to play at the very highest level.

Despite limited Premier League game time (252 minutes) last season, Tierney still ranks well when comparing his underlying numbers to his peers in England’s top flight.

On a per-90-minutes basis, his chance creation (2.86) is better than any other defender, while his expected assists (0.26) put him in the top four.

His dribble success (67%) and duel win rate (64%) also make for impressive reading.

At his best for the London club, Tierney was one of the top full-backs in a league many regard as the world’s best in terms of both quality and drama.

Some Arsenal fans viewed the Celtic youth product as a future captain, but he fell out of favour with Arteta after several big-money full-back signings knocked him down the pecking order.

Limited minutes meant a season-long loan move to Real Sociedad, where Tierney played 20 times in the 2023-24 campaign as the La Liga side finished sixth in Spain’s top tier.

At international level, he has continually shown he is one of Scotland’s most important players. Steve Clarke’s team just does not function the same without him.

And, at 28, his peak years could be on the way. That thought should quite rightly excite the Celtic support.