Filbey’s Tottenham Departure Opens Door for Permanent Move to Celtic for Welsh International

Celtic’s weekend Glasgow Derby Green and Whitewash of theRangers has ensured that with three games to go qualification for next seasons Champions League and with it an increased financial investment in the tournament from UEFA is entirely in Celtic’s hands, as they now sit two points clear in second place and are also very much in the race for the SWPL1 league title itself.

One of the success stories for Celtic since coming back from the winter shutdown and one extended due to Covid-19 restriction, has been the form of on loan Welsh International midfielder Anna Filbey. The ex-Arsenal player has just announced she is leaving Tottenham Hotspur after three seasons with the North London club as she took to twitter to announce her departure, thank those who had assisted her career and look forward to the next chapter in her career.

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Anna Filbey of Celtic scores. Photo by Alex Todd/SPP

“Following three successful years, my time with Tottenham has come to an end. I would like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity to experience some great success, including being part of the team which achieved promotion to the WSL.

We then went on to consolidate our position within the division with a mid-table finish against all odds. I would like to say thank you to all my teammates that I had the pleasure to play with and share these amazing memories with.

“I would like to extend my thanks to Karen and Juan, who gave me the opportunity to sign my first professional contract and continued to support my development, and trusted me to perform at the highest level.

“Finally a huge thank you to the fans who have always been amazing throughout. I wish the team the best of luck in the future. I can now look forward to the next big step in my career.”

Photo by Alex Todd/SPP

Filbey has two senior caps to her name after featuring in Wales’ EURO qualifying campaign against Belarus and Norway and at only 21 years of age has her peak years ahead of her. So far, bar this loan spell north of the border, the Hillingdon born Filbey has played all her football in London. So, what now?

The attraction of the Women’s Super League is there for all to see, it is an established and heavily funded professional competition and it may well be that Filbey will have many offers to remain down south, however with the possibility of Champions League football ahead and with Celtic CEO in waiting Dominic McKay having been heavily involved in the promotion of women’s rugby in his previous role with the SRU, is there a chance that Filbey could be persuaded to turn a loan spell into a permanent contract at Celtic? It is a question Celtic have to be asking.

Filbey’s signing was likely to have been mutually beneficial. Celtic had lost the highly impressive Natalie Ross to injury for the title run-in and at the same time Filbey needed games to build up her fitness.

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Anna Filbey in action against Hearts. Photo: Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

On both fronts it has worked out. Filbey has come in alongside Lisa Robertson in the middle of the park and whilst her midfield partner sits a little deeper disrupts the opposition and supplies Celtic’s impetus from deep lying positions Filbey has been more inclined to run beyond the strikers, break the lines and give the opposition defences a runner to pick up. It is a role she has performed very well indeed and in truth without Anna Filbey’s addition to the squad it is fair to say the loss of Natalie Ross would have been felt far more keenly.

Filbey’s ability from open play is matched by her set piece delivery, as we saw with her assist for Celtic’s opener on Sunday, and brings a regular goal threat with five goals from ten appearances in the Hoops.

With Anna closing the north London chapter of her footballing career and with Celtic looking to develop into a Champions League side as well as one hoping to overturn the dominance of Glasgow City in Scotland, it could well be that a mutually agreeable loan deal can develop into a permanent arrangement. Anna Filbey will undoubtedly interest other clubs but Celtic should ensure they are also part of those conversations.

Niall J

PS Don’t miss Sandman’s Review of the Season – it’s outrageously funny and so accurate that it hurts! Link is below…

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About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

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