GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 11: Celtic huddle ahead of kick off during the William Hill Premiership between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on April 11, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Dara Jikiemi is the latest young Celtic player to quit the club academy to further his career elsewhere. In this case with Liverpool.
It has become a familiar story over the last decade as players turn 16 and decide on their first professional contract. Moving on to Manchester City, Leeds United, Bayern Munich and other clubs.
Celtic appear to be stuck in a cycle which shows little sign of ending.
EPL clubs like Liverpool have the best of the best in terms of facilities with financial incentives that are hard to resist.
Even if Jikiemi fails to get near the Liverpool first team he will be well rewarded before moving on elsewhere.
In 2021 Ben Doak made the same decision, bucked the trend and made first team appearances for Liverpool.
Following a loan spell at Middlesbrough he moved on to Bournemouth for £25 of pur profit.
With Financial Sustainability Regulations to the fore EPL clubs are increasingly looking to cash in on players coming through their ranks.
???????? Liverpool have sealed deal to sign Scotland U16 captain Dara Jikiemi from Celtic, here we go!
Jikiemi has signed paperwork on Sunday to join #LFC on a 5 year contract. ??? pic.twitter.com/3tbLRp2gJt
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 6, 2026
THE DILEMMA THAT CELTIC ARE STUCK IN
Celtic are caught in an almost lose-lose situation. Unable to match the financial offers elsewhere and with no clear pathway to first team football.
Not since Kieran Tierney in 2015 has a player emerged from the Celtic Academy to nail down a regular first team place.
For the sixth season running Celtic will take part in the Lowland League with no real record of developing first team players.
Owen Moffat, Dane Murray and Colby Donovan are the only players to have taken the path from playing in the Lowland League to starting first team matches.
Some of the younger players, such as Sean McArdle are expected to be involved for Celtic tonight in their friendly against Shelbourne.
After impressing in two substitute appearances at the end of the 24/25 season McArdle failed to kick on last season.
Going out on loan to Partick Thistle he played just 86 minutes across five substitute appearances before returning to Celtic where he played in 17 matches in the Lowland League.
