Iheanacho rejects new Celtic deal as Saracchi gives up on return

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reported that Nigeria forward Kelechi Iheanacho has rejected Celtic’s offer of a new contract and signed for Bursaspor, newly promoted to Turkey’s second tier. The 29-year-old had been part of Celtic’s domestic Double-winning squad last season, despite an injury-disrupted campaign, and manager Martin O’Neill had wanted to keep him at the Scottish champions.

Iheanacho, formerly of Manchester City, Leicester City and Sevilla, joined Celtic as a free agent in 2025 after the summer window had closed. According to the BBC report, he scored nine times last season, including six goals as a substitute during Celtic’s nine-match winning run to secure the league and cup Double. His exit leaves Celtic with limited centre-forward depth, with Japan international Daizen Maeda also entering the final year of his contract.

The same report said former loan player Marcelo Saracchi has accepted that he will not be returning to Celtic from Boca Juniors. The 28-year-old Uruguay left-back posted a farewell message to supporters on Instagram, saying he and his agent had tried to make a Glasgow return possible. He made 27 appearances for Celtic last season, 10 of them starts.

BBC Sport also reported that defender Maik Nawrocki has left Celtic Park after three years, joining Lens on a four-year contract following a loan spell at Hannover 96. The departures come during what Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson has described as a difficult summer transfer market, with the club so far adding only Colombian striker Camilo Duran from Qarabag for an undisclosed fee.