Kelechi Iheanacho Chooses Bursaspor Over Celtic

Kelechi Iheanacho turned his back on a fresh deal at Celtic and told his agent to push through a move to Bursaspor, insisting he wanted “everything possible” done to get him to the Turkish club.

The 29-year-old Nigeria striker had only arrived at Celtic in September on a one-year contract after leaving Sevilla, following a loan spell with Middlesbrough. The Scottish champions allowed a deadline to pass that would have triggered a one-year extension, but manager Martin O'Neill later made clear he still wanted Iheanacho to stay and that a new offer was on the table.

By then, the player’s mind had already wandered east.

Rather than recommit to Celtic, Iheanacho signed for Bursaspor last week, joining a club on the rise after winning the TFF Second League last season and targeting back-to-back promotions to reclaim their place in the Turkish Super Lig.

The pull, he says, was deliberate and decisive.

In his first interview as a Bursaspor player, Iheanacho spoke of his delight at the move and the stature of his new employers, saying he was happy and excited to join a club he regards as one of the major names in Turkey and one he knew had previously lifted the Turkish Super Lig title.

A new contract at Celtic was there for him. He chose the challenge of hauling Bursaspor back to the top instead.