[REVISION HISTORY]

Iheanacho signs for Bursaspor after Celtic talks fail

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-11 17:01 UTC → 2026-09-08 08:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Celtic’s option to extend Kelechi Iheanacho’s contract lapsed in late June 2026, prompting a period of negotiations. By early July, the club opened formal talks to secure the striker before pre-season, while interest from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, MLS, and Brazil’s Vasco da Gama persisted. On 20 July 2026, Iheanacho—a free agent after Celtic’s two-year renewal offer was described by the player as “disrespectful” and roughly half his earlier salary—joined Turkish second-division side Bursaspor on a three-year deal that met his full wage demands. The move ended Celtic’s pursuit and sparked discussion in Nigerian football circles about a trend of international players opting for lower-profile leagues. Two days later, Iheanacho said Bursaspor presented him with a “big project” aimed at rapid promotion to the Super Lig and European competition. He noted an annual salary of about £1.2 million (£23,000 per week) and expressed excitement to help the former champion achieve its goals, even remarking on the visual similarity between the green-white kits of Celtic and Bursaspor. Iheanacho made a successful debut for Bursaspor on 10 August 2026, recording one goal and one assist in a 2-0 away victory against Bodrum FK. The performance earned him Man of the Match honors and placed Bursaspor second in the early standings of the 2026/27 1. Lig season. On 8 September 2026, Iheanacho scored twice to lead Bursaspor to a 2-1 comeback victory against Manisa. After Manisa took an early lead, Iheanacho equalized with an individual effort and secured the win in stoppage time by capitalizing on a goalkeeper mistake. This performance extended his scoring streak to six consecutive league matches, bringing his total to eight goals and two assists in his first six appearances.

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