Celtic announced on 24 March 2022 that Daniel Kelly had signed a three year contract but a report in the Daily Mail has revealed that the midfielder is out of contract at the end of this year.
Most folk reading the Celtic Tweet would assume that the three years would run until at least 24 March 2025, probably May or June 2025 but that isn’t the case.
Last night in the Daily Mail Stephen McGowan revealed:
CELTIC are pushing to tie down teenage midweek goalscorer Daniel Kelly on a new contract.
The 18-year-old midfielder marked a dream Premiership debut against Dundee with a stunning first senior goal in a thumping 7-1 win for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Out of contract at the end of 2024, Kelly is now attracting strong interest from Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig as well as clubs in England.
Celtic have now made contact with the Scottish youngster’s representatives to schedule discussions on a new deal before he becomes free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club this summer.
✍️ #CelticFC is delighted to announce that it has completed the signing of Daniel Kelly on his first professional contract.
Daniel has joined on a three year contract. Everyone at the Club wishes Daniel well and every success for his future with Celtic 🍀 pic.twitter.com/vkClbjzBX2
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) March 24, 2022
Small margins make big differences when it comes to contracts, for no obvious reason Celtic signed Ryan Christie onto a contract that expired on 31 December 2021, in August 2021 he moved to Bournemouth in a cut price deal.
Bringing players through from the Academy to first team has become a growing issue at Celtic over the last five or six years.
Almost as soon as they turn 16 Ben Doak, Liam Morrison, Barry Hepburn and others have moved to England or Germany to start their professional careers.
Money clearly plays a part in those decisions but so to does the lack of a pathway at Celtic.
Tony Ralston, Stephen Welsh and Mikey Johnston are in and around the first team squad but not since 2015 when Kieran Tierney burst through has there been a genuine success story from the Academy.
Clearly playing in the Lowland League is doing very little for players, this season Ben Summers, Ben McPherson and Mackenzie Carse have been sent out on loan to clubs in the Championship.
Kelly’s contract situation is far from ideal, it seems similar to Rocco Vata who will be a free agent in the summer.
Brendan Rodgers rates both players ahead of many recent signings but will have to get involved in some sweet talking if both players are to be part of his future plans for Celtic.
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