NafisaCeltic’s hopes of securing Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher have been dashed, as the 26-year-old has completed a move to Premier League side Brentford.
The transfer, finalized on Tuesday, is valued at £18 million, with Brentford paying £12.5 million upfront and an additional £5.5 million contingent on performance-related add-ons.
Kelleher, who had been on Celtic’s radar as a potential successor to the retired Joe Hart, was reportedly interested in a move to the Scottish champions, attracted by the prospect of Champions League football.
However, Celtic’s financial constraints, with their record signing standing at around £9 million, made it challenging to meet Liverpool’s valuation of the goalkeeper.
In his first interview with Brentford, Kelleher expressed his enthusiasm for the new chapter in his career:
“I’m buzzing, I’m really happy to be here,” Kelleher told Brentford’s website.
“I don’t think it was very difficult for me to leave [Liverpool]. I felt for my own career that the time was right for me to go, to be a no.1 and to play every week. I heard of some interest a number of weeks ago. Once I knew Brentford was in for me, it was definitely one I was really excited about and wanted to do as quickly as possible.”
During his tenure at Liverpool, Kelleher made 67 appearances and was part of squads that won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup. Despite his contributions, he remained the understudy to Alisson Becker, prompting his desire for regular first-team football.
Brentford’s Director of Football, Phil Giles, praised Kelleher’s abilities and character, stating that the club had been monitoring his situation and were pleased to secure his services.
While Celtic fans may be disappointed by missing out on Kelleher, the club’s pursuit underscores their ambition to strengthen the squad with quality signings. As the transfer window progresses, Celtic will likely explore other options to bolster their goalkeeping department ahead of the new season.
Nafisa
