NafisaCeltic’s academy has long been viewed as one of the most productive pathways in Scottish football, producing a steady stream of promising talents who have gone on to establish themselves both domestically and abroad.
The club continues to invest heavily in youth development, hoping the next generation can eventually make the jump from academy football to the first team at Parkhead.
However, modern football presents a growing challenge for clubs across Scotland. Premier League sides regularly monitor emerging prospects north of the border, often identifying talented youngsters before they have the opportunity to fully establish themselves in senior football.
It is a trend Celtic supporters have become increasingly familiar with in recent years. While the club has successfully retained several highly-rated prospects, others have been tempted by opportunities elsewhere, particularly when elite English clubs come calling.
The competition for the game’s brightest young talents has never been fiercer.
And it appears another promising Celtic prospect is now preparing to continue his development away from Glasgow.
Highly-rated youngster Dara Jikiemi is reportedly on course to complete a move to Liverpool.
The 16-year-old central defender has apparently rejected a fresh contract proposal from Celtic despite the club’s efforts to retain his services.
Celtic were eager to keep the academy graduate at Parkhead and attempted to convince him that his future remained in Glasgow.
However, according to the Daily Record, Jikiemi has decided against extending his stay with the Scottish champions.
Reports first emerged back in March suggesting the teenager was attracting significant attention from Liverpool, and it now appears those links are set to materialise into a transfer.
The defender is understood to have selected Liverpool ahead of several other Premier League suitors, including Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Although Celtic will be entitled to training compensation following his departure, the amount received is expected to be reduced because of the cross-border nature of the move.
Jikiemi will become the latest young talent to leave Celtic for Anfield, following a pathway previously taken by Ben Doak, who also swapped Glasgow for Merseyside as a teenager before progressing through Liverpool’s system.
His departure continues a trend that has seen several highly-rated academy prospects move south in pursuit of opportunities, with players such as Conall Glancy and Daniel Cummings also choosing English clubs in recent years.
While losing talented youngsters is never ideal, Celtic’s academy remains highly regarded across Britain, and the continued interest from Premier League clubs serves as further evidence of the quality being produced within the club’s youth ranks.
For Jikiemi, meanwhile, a new chapter now appears set to begin at one of England’s biggest clubs as he looks to continue his development at Liverpool.
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