Celtic have moved to secure the future of one of their long-serving figures, agreeing a new deal that keeps the player at the club for another season. It’s a decision that comes at an important point in the campaign, with the team still fighting on multiple fronts and every bit of experience in the squad carrying extra value.
The agreement has been quietly in the works for some time, with discussions centring around the player’s continued influence both on and off the pitch. While not always a regular starter these days, his impact in key moments has remained a constant theme throughout the season.
That reliability has been especially evident in recent weeks, where he has continued to step up when called upon, offering control, energy, and a level of composure that younger players in the squad often lean on during tight matches.
Martin O’Neill was keen to underline exactly why the decision was made, stressing that sentiment played no part in the final call. Instead, it came down to trust, consistency, and the ability to still change games when it matters most.
James Forrest has committed to an 18th season at Celtic after putting pen to paper on a one-year extension that keeps him at the club until the summer of 2027.
It extends a career that has become part of the club’s modern history. Forrest has now made 564 appearances for Celtic, 36 of them this season alone, scoring 110 goals and registering 112 assists since bursting onto the scene in May 2010 with a goal on his debut against Motherwell in a 4-0 win.
He also stands alone as Celtic’s most decorated player, collecting 26 trophies, including 13 league titles, seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups.
Even at 34, heading towards 35 in July, he is still showing he can influence big moments. That was clear again in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi final win over St Mirren, where he came off the bench and helped turn the game Celtic’s way.
Forrest entered in the 61st minute at Hampden, replacing Sebastian Tounekti, and soon after found himself wearing the captain’s armband when Callum McGregor was taken off.
With St Mirren fighting back from two goals down, the tie was hanging in the balance until Forrest made his mark in extra time, bursting down the right and delivering a perfect cross for Kelechi Iheanacho to head home for 3-2.
He was involved again almost immediately, helping set up Luke McCowan’s goal two minutes later, which effectively settled the match.
After the game, Forrest admitted talks had already been ongoing over a new deal and said he was relieved to have everything sorted.
“I’ve been here my full career and I’ve loved every minute of it,” Forrest said. “We’ve been so successful in my time here and I’m delighted to have signed another year, and I’ll just give my best to the club for however long I’ll be here.
“While I’m still playing I can hopefully keep contributing and helping the team when I can and I’m just going to give it everything until I finish. When I do stop, I will look back on so many great memories, but hopefully I can make a few more before I do finish.”
One detail that stands out in Forrest’s long Celtic career is consistency. He has scored in every one of his 17 seasons at the club, including this campaign, where he netted in a 3-1 win over Aberdeen shortly before Christmas.
Manager Martin O’Neill was clear that the decision to keep him was based on impact, not nostalgia.
“I really want James to finish his career here at Celtic, and I just didn’t want him to be going elsewhere, and I think he wanted that as well,” O’Neill said. “But the major point about taking anyone on is to know whether they’re worth an extra year and James has proved this season that he has been worth that.
“He has changed games and he has done wonderfully well. His contribution in recent weeks when he’s come off the bench has been absolutely terrific, and he has deserved it, and that’s the point. So, take sentimentality right out of it, he’s deserved it.
“He’s been immense for the football club since Neil Lennon brought him in when he was a young kid in the reserves, and he is what I love. I love players who take people on and he can take people on, even to have that little burst of pace at his age is worth its weight in gold.”