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Celtic defender makes low key exit to League One club

He is quick, aggressive, very good on the ball, lovely attitude and really keen on signing, which I think is because of the pathway we have up to the first team. I am looking forward to working with him, I think he will do well for us.

Joe McHugh Published: October 30, 2024 | Updated: October 30, 2024

Transfer, exit, deal, Celtic, Udinese, Tyrhys Dolan, Nilson Angulo, Isaac English, Anthony Joseph, Fabrizio Romano, Matthew Anderson, Lagerbielke

Justin Osagie is the latest youngster from Celtic to move on to England to pick up on his career.

Peterborough United have announced the signing of the defender on a one year contract after he impressed on a trial following two seasons with Celtic following a move from West Ham.

Clearly playing in the Lowland League isn’t developing the career of younger players with Osagie taking what appears to be a backward step to League One in the search for worthwhile playing time.

Although it is far from an exact parallel Matt O’Riley took a similar route from Fulham to Celtic and Brighton via MK Dons and is now reaping the rewards.

Osagie’s profile on the Celtic website, which remains live, reads:

The 17-year joined the Hoops from the Academy of English Premier League side West Ham United in September 2022.

Signing a three-year deal with the club, Osagie will be aiming to become one of the latest players to advance through the ranks.

Shortly after joining the Hoops, the versatile defender received his first call-up for Ireland at youth level, being named in the under-19s squad.

After 21 appearances in the Lowland League last season totalling 1,132 minutes according to Transfermarkt the three year contract has been cut short with the defender back in English football.

Speaking to the Peterborough website, first team manager Darren Ferguson said:

Our recruitment team were aware of Justin and have been for a number of years. He was a kid at West Ham United, he moved up to Celtic and was released at the end of the season.

Obviously Celtic is a different level to us. He has come in to train with us and he has done very well, extremely impressive.

I feel that, even though it was not a position we were looking at as we have Ollie Rose and Jenson Sumnall of the younger centre backs, it was a case of we must sign the boy because he is a talented kid.

He will come into the Under 21s, but he will be training with the first team a lot. He is quick, aggressive, very good on the ball, lovely attitude and really keen on signing, which I think is because of the pathway we have up to the first team. I am looking forward to working with him, I think he will do well for us.

The gap between the Academy and B squad through to the Celtic first team seems to be getting bigger with each passing season, not since Kieran Tierney in 2015/16 has any player stepped straight up to establish themselves as a first team regular.