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Anthony Ralston’s Celtic contract shock

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Anthony Ralston will become a free agent at the end of this season Video Celts understands.

It was reported by the club website in 2017 that the defender was under contract ‘until at least the summer of 2022’ but in recent times it seems that the club website has been economic with the truth.

A similar statement was made about Leigh Griffiths’ contract but it was recently confirmed that Celtic have an option on whether to activate the final 12 months with a decision to be made by April 30.

Last year Jozo Simunovic was released in the summer despite his contract apparently running until 2021. Ralston appears to be in the same category.

On 30 December 2017 the Celtic website reported:

CELTIC are delighted to announce that Anthony Ralston has signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the club, which will see him remain at Paradise until at least the summer of 2022.

The 19-year-old made his first-team debut against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in May 2016, coming on as a substitute in the game. And the following season, he got his first start, also against St Johnstone, in a 4-1 victory at Paradise at the start of May this year.

At the time of that report Ralston was recovering from injury having started the season at right-back in the first team and drawing comparisons with Kieran Tierney.

An injury away to Dundee soon after facing Paris Saint Germain effectively ended his Celtic hopes, in March he went out on loan to Dundee United who were in the Championship.

Last season he made 21 Premiership appearances on loan at St Johnstone before Lockdown when it was clear that he was out of the picture at Celtic.

Ralston played in the Europa League tie away to AIK Solna but with Moritz Bauer joining Hatem Abd Elhamed he moved to St Johnstone on loan.

This season his only Celtic appearance was in the 0-0 home draw with Livingston when 13 players had to self-isolate. When Jeremie Frimpong was sold to Bayer Leverkusen Celtic brought in Jonjoe Kenny on loan from Everton.

VideoCelts understands that Celtic won’t be taking up the 12 month option on his current deal and has contacted Celtic for confirmation.

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