Star turn Alistair Johnston has signed his Celtic contract extension to keep him at Parkhead until 2029, handing the champions a massive boost.
Record Sport broke the story in September that the Hoops had opened talks with the Canadian international over a new deal and then exclusively revealed last month that discussions had ramped up.
And now the full back has put pen to paper. The 26-year-old international has been a key player for Celtic since Ange Postecoglou signed him from FC Montreal in 2022. He has continued to remain one of the main men under Rodgers. Johnston from right-back has four goals and four assists for Celtic in all competitions.
Johnston told the Celtic website: “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.
“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.
“It is a real delight to be working day in, day out in such a great set-up, working with the gaffer and the staff who have such ambition for success and with such a great group of lads in the team.
“Of course my team-mates have been everything to me – it is a brilliant dressing room I am privileged to be part of, with real quality guys beside me and I know we are all, collectively looking to work as hard as we can to bring our fans even more success over the next few years.”
Boss Brendan Rodgers added: “It is fantastic news for the club and our fans that Ali has agreed this new contract. 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.
“He has a 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. These are the qualities which make a great player and he has certainly been that for Celtic. Everyone at the club felt it crucial that we extend Ali’s contract with Celtic and I am delighted that we have been able to do this.