Liam Scales putting pen to paper on a new deal at Celtic raised a few eyebrows.
There wasn’t any obvious rush. He was already under contract until 2028, yet the club have moved early and extended it through to 2030.
That’s what caught people off guard.
Scales has never quite been a unanimous favourite among supporters. For many, he’s been seen as a useful squad option rather than someone you build a defence around long term.
But that view isn’t shared across the board.
Andy Halliday, for one, thinks the defender doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He pointed to Scales’ display against Falkirk as a reminder of what he brings.
“I honestly think Liam Scales is so underrated,” Halliday said on Open Goal.
“Anytime Falkirk exposed Celtic in behind, he just reads the game so well and gets it put back to goal.
“And I think he defends his box extremely well. He’s a smart one.”
That’s really where the discussion sits.
Scales isn’t flashy. He’s not the type who stands out for the wrong or right reasons every week. But his awareness, positioning, and ability to read danger early are clearly valued inside the club.
This new deal tells you as much. Celtic see him as part of the group moving forward, not just someone to fill gaps when needed.
Whether that convinces the wider fanbase is another matter, but the club’s position is clear.
With Cameron Carter-Vickers expected back for pre-season, the next manager will have decisions to make. It could come down to who partners him out of Auston Trusty and Scales — or whether the club looks elsewhere in the market altogether.
For now, though, Scales has his future sorted.