Celtic have today completed the signing of Australian international Riley McGree from American side Charlotte FC for a fee of around £3million. The midfielder becomes the fifth January signing as the Ange Postecoglou Celtic revolution moves up a gear.
The deal is subject to the usual international clearance formalities but since the Celtic manager selected McCree for his international debut for Australia, he’ll be pretty certain that this is not likely to be an issue.
Middlesbrough were strongly linked with a move for the 23 year-old who impressed during a loan spell at Birmingham City, who didn’t have the necessary funds to sign McGree on a permanent deal. But the Postecoglou factor looks like swinging the deal in Celtic’s favour.
Riley McGree joins Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate – our Hogmanay J-League signings and Irish striker Johnny Kenny who signed at the weekend from Sligo Rovers
Riley McGree of Australia is challenged by Xinghan Wu during the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier final round Group B match between China and Australia at Sharjah Stadium on November 16, 2021 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Neville Hopwood/Getty Images)
The Riley McGree to Celtic rumour train built a head of steam in the last 24 hours with his signing being reported the this afternoon..
As Lubo 98 reported last night journalist Alan Nixon was advising the road appeared open for Celtic to make a bid – ‘Boro been trying for McGree for a couple of weeks … not far away with fee … Celtic can come in if they want … and if they have the 2m.’
And that was quickly followed up by The Athletics’ Sam Stejskal, who said it would be under £3m – not Dollars as he originally quoted, he quickly clarified that to advise the deal would be under £3m – ‘Source confirms that Charlotte are close to deal to sell Riley McGree to Celtic. Fee a little under $3 million, potential to rise another $1-2 million depending on performance.’
Earlier today SkySports Anthony Joseph added further momentum with his take on this deal, when taking to Twitter to advise ‘Celtic have made a move for Charlotte FC midfielder Riley McGree. Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough also expressed their interest. But talks with Celtic are understood to have reached an advanced stage on a deal worth an initial £2.5m, with various add-ons being finalised.’
It has to be said that’s three fairly credible sources in Nixon, Stejskal and now Anthony Joesph, himself a Celtic supporter, all hearing from contacts that the Riley McGree deal could well not only be under consideration now, as advised by Joseph, actually at an advanced stage. And this has now progressed to the deal being reported as being completed by Scott Burns on Daily Record.
Celtic have yet to confirm the signing but that shouldn’t be too long in happening.
There’s no messing about at the club these days as Postecoglou and Michael Nicholson get another deal done early in the transfer window, and once again it’s a player Ange Postecoglou knows well, having called him up for the Australian national squad.
It would also mean four players will have been fully endorsed by the manager and not by anyone at the club assuming the role of Director of Football alongside their day job, with Johnny Kenny more likely to have been a result of the club;’s scouting.
This certainly points to more autonomy and trust being offered to Postecoglou as he brining in the player dubbed ‘The Scorpion King’. Why? Have a look at this!
Niall J
And for those who missed this one yesterday on The Celtic Star, here’s a catch-up chance to check out the photographs given to this site by the former Celtic Director Tom Grant of the demolition of the old Celtic Park and in its place the emergence of the New Celtic Park which we know and love today. These photographs are fascinating and well worth checking out on the link below…
READ THIS…Exclusive – A Phoenix Rising, a House of Steel. Celtic Park Redevelopment Photographs
