Celtic’s summer planning is already beginning to take shape, and one of the questions facing the club will be whether to trigger the one-year extension option in Kelechi Iheanacho’s contract.
The Nigerian forward arrived at Celtic last summer on a short-term deal that included the option of a further year. At the time, the move made sense for both sides.
It allowed the Hoops to add experience to their attack without committing to a long-term contract, while giving the striker an opportunity to rebuild his momentum after leaving Leicester City.
However, with the 2025/26 season approaching its final stages, the big question now is whether the club will feel Iheanacho has done enough to earn that extension.
A season of mixed impact
There have been flashes of quality from Kelechi Iheanacho during his time at Parkhead.
The striker’s technical ability and link-up play have been evident at times, and he has shown glimpses of the creativity that once made him one of the most exciting young attackers in English football. When fully fit, Iheanacho has demonstrated the intelligence and movement that can make him a useful option in the final third.
But those moments have not arrived consistently enough to make him an undisputed starter.
In fact, one of the most telling statistics from Celtic’s season is that midfielder Benjamin Nygren currently leads the club’s scoring charts in the Scottish Premiership. For a side challenging for the title, that highlights a broader issue within the attacking department.
Celtic have struggled to get regular goals from their strikers, and that lack of cutting edge has been a recurring theme throughout the campaign.
Injuries disrupting momentum
Another factor that could influence the club’s decision is Iheanacho’s fitness record this season.
The forward has struggled to maintain consistent availability, with injuries preventing him from building a sustained run of form. Even when he has shown encouraging signs, those setbacks have made it difficult for him to truly establish himself as a key figure in the team.
For a club competing on multiple fronts, reliability is crucial. Players need to be available week after week, especially in the attacking positions where rhythm and confidence often determine success.
Without that consistency, it becomes harder for the coaching staff to rely on a player as a central part of their long-term plans.
A crucial summer ahead
Celtic are widely expected to strengthen their attacking options during the upcoming transfer window.
With the club preparing for a potentially significant rebuild — which could also include the appointment of a permanent successor to Martin O’Neill — the recruitment team will likely prioritise adding a striker capable of delivering regular goals.
If a new forward arrives in the summer, the competition for places in attack will only increase. In that scenario, the club may decide that activating Iheanacho’s extension is unnecessary, particularly if they want to reshape the squad around younger or more consistent options.
The likely verdict
While the contract option gives Celtic flexibility, the current outlook suggests the club may lean toward letting Iheanacho move on when the season ends.
Unless the striker produces a strong run of performances between now and the end of the campaign, the Hoops may decide that their resources are better invested elsewhere as they look to rebuild their attacking line.
In modern football, short-term contracts with extension clauses are often designed as a low-risk evaluation period. Celtic were able to assess Iheanacho’s impact without making a long-term commitment, and now they will soon need to decide whether he fits into their plans for the future.
At this stage, the evidence suggests that while Iheanacho has shown moments of quality, it may not be enough to convince the club to trigger that additional year.