During Celtic FC’s versus SS Lazio UEFA Youth League encounter, Marco Nazzaro of SS Lazio challenges Daniel Kelly of Celtic FC for the ball

“Dan has agreed to join the club,” Lions manager Neil Harris said when he announced the news earlier this week. He has signed the agreement after it was reached. January is when he formally joins us. We believe this young athlete, who resembles Romain, Aidomo, and Alfie, has enormous potential.

“We want to be the football team that develops players and provides them with that chance.” It is the only way our football team can advance.

In the past, Brendan Rodgers had a tough position over his unwillingness to sign a new deal with Celtic, acknowledging that he would not participate in preseason games as long as his future remained uncertain.

Kelly has chosen to search elsewhere for his opportunity to make a name for himself in the game, even if there was an offer on the table that would have made him a regular member of the first team.

In the end, he will decide where he thinks he can best advance his development. However, it is worth addressing the notion that Celtic should try to cut ties during this window, if at all possible.

It’s now evident where he will go next: Celtic and Daniel Kelly.
Kelly has not been successfully retained by Celtic, therefore it could be preferable for both sides to end things amicably this month, if at all feasible.

First off, he won’t advance by remaining at Lennoxtown for the foreseeable future. The 18-year-old has played for the B Team with the uncertainty surrounding his future; he even scored against Gala Fairydean Rovers the previous week, demonstrating his ability to play at a higher level.

Before a game between Manchester City and Celtic at Kenan Stadium on July 23, 2024 in Chapel Hill, Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers emerges from the tunnel.
Image courtesy of ISI Photos/Getty Images/Eston Parker
For the duration of his contract, Rodgers won’t use him with the first team, therefore it makes sense to try to get paid for his services.

Naturally, Millwall won’t pay if they don’t have to; Celtic will be responsible for any bar training expenses. Either way, now that his predicament has been handled, it’s time to turn our attention to the other young people who are competing to emerge as Parkhead seniors.

Celtic has initiatives in place to enhance youngster growth.
To be clear, this is my interpretation of what happened. In recent years, Lennoxtown has developed into a challenging environment for advancement into the senior setup. Kelly is hardly the first child to see a better opportunity to advance elsewhere.

Celtic has made some significant academy appointments in an effort to counteract the academy drain and enhance the potential of local players. As the new Professional Player Pathway Manager, Darren O’Dea is in charge of nurturing the next generation of Hoops players, both in-house and on loan.

Returning to the team as assistant coach for the B Team is Jonny Hayes. For the Under-18 setup, Adam Asghar and Chris Hendry have worked up.

The rear office shift should aid in Rodgers’ goal of developing young talent during his second term. Celtic supporters don’t want to see this trend continue, so that needs to be the plan: losing outstanding young players.