Hearts have confirmed the signing of Aiden Haddow, as the midfielder leaves Celtic’s B team in the Lowland League to join the Tynecastle setup.
With Haddow’s Celtic contract set to expire in May, the offer of a deal running until May 2026 has prompted the 18-year-old to make the switch.
Haddow made 11 appearances in the Lowland League and featured in two UEFA Youth League matches under Stephen McManus this season.
Hearts B team manager Angus Beith spoke highly of Haddow in a statement on the club’s official website, saying:
“Aiden is a very exciting young player, who will add further competition to our midfield. Technically, he is excellent, but more importantly he has that hunger and desire to learn and keep improving his game. I’m delighted he’s with us and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
This strong endorsement from Beith highlights the promise Haddow brings to Hearts. It’s also likely that Celtic have secured a percentage of any future transfer fee as part of the deal, which allowed the move to go through during the January window.
Haddow now has an example to follow in Fraser Wilson, a 17-year-old striker who has made a significant impact at Hearts.
Wilson has scored five first-team goals this season, including one in the UEFA Conference League, and has netted four SPFL goals from seven starts and six substitute appearances.
By contrast, the pathway at Celtic has proven more challenging for young players. Owen Moffat was the last academy product to make a competitive start for the first team, back in December 2021.
Moffat, however, didn’t feature again for Celtic and has since moved on, currently playing for Morton following stints with Blackpool and Dunfermline.
Haddow will now aim to seize his opportunity at Hearts and follow in the footsteps of other young talents making their mark at the club.
