Young Celtic defender Hayden Borland has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract.
The Celtic B team captain has been a consistent presence under Stephen McManus and Jonny Hayes throughout the season.
After signing his first professional contract with the Hoops in April 2024, his steady performances at B team level have now earned him a two year extension that keeps him at the club until 2029.
He has also featured for Scotland at Under 16, Under 17 and Under 19 levels, taking part in the Under 19 qualifiers last month.
Celtic B captain Hayden Borland signs new contract:
A statement on the Celtic website said on Friday: “Central defender, Hayden Borland, a mainstay of the B Team this term has signed a contract extension with the club until April 2029.
“The 18-year-old centre-back who has three goals to his credit in over 30 Lowland League games so far this season put pen to paper on the two-year extension at Celtic Park.
“Everyone at Celtic Park wishes Hayden every success as he continues on the Player Pathway at the club.”
The reference to a Player Pathway in that statement is particularly notable, especially with current Player Pathways Manager Shaun Maloney currently stepping in as assistant manager.
Maloney took over from Darren O’Dea, the former B team boss, who left last summer to become assistant manager at Swansea, replacing Mark Fotheringham.
Earlier this week, reports suggested that Celtic B could pull out of the Lowland League at the end of the season.
That decision was believed to be linked to plans for the Lowland League to split into West and East divisions next term.
On top of that, the success of the recently introduced club cooperation loan system has opened up more opportunities for Celtic to send young players out to SPFL sides.
However, the Lowland League have since pushed back on those claims, stating that Celtic will remain part of the setup next season.
At present, Celtic have six players out on loan in the Scottish Championship, with two at Partick Thistle and four at Ayr United.
Other top talents from Celtic’s B team:
Borland is not related to Aidan Borland, the 18 year old midfielder who left Celtic for Aston Villa in 2023.
Rhys Dargie has been the B team’s leading scorer this season with ten goals and also signed a new contract towards the end of last year.
Finlay Hale and Samuel Isiguzo, both 18, have been included on the bench for European fixtures, while 16 year old Joseph Haney was named in the matchday squad against Auchinleck Talbot.
Another 16 year old, Dara Jikieimi, has already made his debut for the B team but is expected to join Liverpool at the end of the season.