James McFadden reveals the reasons that three Celtic moves fell through

James McFadden has discussed the career near-misses that prevented him from becoming a Celtic player.

The attacking midfielder broke into the Motherwell side towards the end of the 2000/01 season, at the end of his first full season he was a Scotland internationalist under Berti Vogts.

Martin O’Neill’s team was all powerful at that time with McFadden seeming to be a natural fit into the side that was preparing for life after Lubo Moravcik.

Celtic were believed to have offered around £1.5m for Faddy but Motherwell held firm and picked up £1.75m from Everton, the same fee that Celtic ad paid to sign Phil O’Donnell in 1994.

???| RIGHT IN THE COUPON

We’re discussing ‘near moves’ & Faddy tells us how close he came to joining @CelticFC AND Bayer Leverkusen when they were Champions League finalists!

YouTube ? https://t.co/nui6pmtQug

DOUBLE ODDS w/ @GrosvenorSport ?? https://t.co/2Qig5uQLbW pic.twitter.com/krG8cV5FqG

— Open Goal (@opengoalsport) April 20, 2023

When I was younger Celtic came in for me but Motherwell never accepted the offer.

I think they tried to sign me before I left Everton the first time before I went to Birmingham, then they tried to sign me when I was at Birmingham.

The clubs never accepted the offers. But the last time it was my decision. It just didn’t feel right. I got offered not a better contract – not in terms of money but I got offered a better opportunity to go back to Everton.

They offered me a contract if I played so many games I would get a two year contract on the end of it.

McFadden rejoined Everton as a free agent in October 2011, starting two EPL matches and coming on as a substitute five times. He left seven months later, returning to Scotland to play at Motherwell, St Johnstone and Queen of the South.