Setting The Record Straight- Kennedy ends speculation over key Celtic contract
Karamoko Dembele has a year still to run on his Celtic contract.
The 18-year-old scored his first senior goal tonight with his fourth appearance off the bench coming in Celtic’s second last match of the season.
Since signing his first professional contract shortly before his 16th birthday it has been widely assumed that his contract ran until June of this year.
With a massive summer overhaul expected whoever takes charge of Celtic next season could have the talented teenager pushing for a starting place.
After the 4-0 win over St Johnstone, Kennedy told The Scotsman:
There is a lot of speculation in terms of Karamoko being out of contract in the summer. I don’t know where that has come from because he has another year left. He is a young player and every young player has a different pathway.
Karamoko has been spoken about as the next superstar, but people develop physically at different rates. He is probably one who still has a bit of development, but is a terrific talent — we know that. It’s not a token gesture, he has done well in training recently.
Karamoko replaced James Forrest in the 77th minute of tonight’ match and scored the final goal in the 4-0 win.
Despite having nine substitutes and the chance to play five of them Dembele has been on the bench for less than a dozen SPFL matches.
A transfer could still go through this summer but it would be on Celtic’s terms. Deciding on the future of the 18-year-old will be one of many early decisions for the next manager to make.