Kieran Tierney’s ongoing struggles at Arsenal have led former Celtic star Aiden McGeady to believe that the Scotland international is destined for a return to Parkhead.
The 27-year-old left-back has found himself in a precarious position at the Emirates, having not featured since his substitute appearance in last year’s Community Shield against Manchester City.
Last season, Tierney was on loan at Real Sociedad, where injury woes limited him to just 22 starts. Further complications arose during Euro 2024, where he sustained another injury, sidelining him at the start of the current season.
With his future at Arsenal in doubt, it remains uncertain whether he can reintegrate into Mikel Arteta’s plans. However, his inclusion in Arsenal’s Champions League squad for the 2024-25 season suggests that there may be a glimmer of hope for a revival.
Tierney made headlines when he joined Arsenal for a record £25 million from Celtic in 2019. Initially, he was a fixture in the first team, but he fell out of favour last season.
Speculation regarding a possible return to Celtic emerged during the summer transfer window, though nothing materialised. McGeady, who had a notable career at Celtic, is convinced that a sentimental return is inevitable, albeit not in the immediate future.
Speaking to BoyleSports, McGeady stated, “I think 100 per cent it’s going to happen at some point, Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic, but the timing on that remains to be seen.”
He expressed surprise at Tierney’s situation, noting, “I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t play again for Celtic, but the whole situation has surprised me because he settled in so well with Arsenal when he first arrived there.”
McGeady highlighted that Tierney’s decline isn’t due to a loss of form but rather injuries and tactical shifts within the squad.
“I don’t even think it was a loss of form, maybe down to the injury, and then all of a sudden Mikel Arteta changes his options and finds a different way of playing,” he said.
Despite his belief in a future reunion with Celtic, McGeady doesn’t see it happening anytime soon.
“I can’t see him returning to Celtic just now. I still think he’ll want to do that slightly later on in his career. But it will 100 per cent happen at some point,” he concluded.
As Tierney navigates this challenging phase, fans will undoubtedly keep a close eye on his progress, hoping to see the talented defender shine once more, either in the Premier League or back in the green and white of Celtic.