Celtic Signs Teenager Daniel Kelly to Long-Term Deal

The 14-year-old sensation will remain with Celtic after big teams like this Liverpool looked to sign him.

English Premier League teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City were also among those showing an interest in Kelly, as well as Portuguese giants Benfica.

According to a report from Lanarkshire Live Sport last month, Celtic were set to offer a long-term deal to the talented midfielder, looking to persuade him to stay in Glasgow.

The East Kilbride starlet just signed a four-year contract that will keep him with Celtic until 2024.

His father Craig Kelly said: “Absolutely delighted for Daniel signing a pre-professional contract with Celtic keeping him at the club until 2024.

Thank you for all the kind words and well wishes everyone. Daniel and the family are absolutely delighted.

Lots of work ahead for sure, but Daniel knows it!”

A former St. Leonards Primary School pupil, Daniel Kelly first caught the eye of Celtic when he was playing above his age group as part of East Kilbride Caledonian Thistle’s 2004 team.

Now Kelly is part of the successful St. Ninian’s High School program, the same that helped bring the likes of Kieran Tierney and Mikey Johnston to prominence at Celtic.

Kelly will turn 15 years old in October and he has been tracked by some of the top teams in Europe for almost two years.

In 2018 Kelly was over in Germany for the Santander Cup and he helped Celtic finish third behind Juventus and FC Barcelona’s youth sides.

Daniel Kelly scored in a 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven and also netted the only goal in a 1-0 win over Liverpool, which first brought him to the attention of their scouts.