Kelechi Iheanacho Joins Bursaspor After Celtic Contract Offer

Kelechi Iheanacho turned his back on a fresh Celtic contract and pushed through a move to Bursaspor, insisting he told his agent to “do everything possible” to get the deal done.

The 29-year-old Nigeria forward had only arrived at Celtic in September on a one-year deal after leaving Sevilla, following a loan spell with Middlesbrough. The Scottish champions held an option to extend his stay by a further year, but that deadline passed without being triggered.

Martin O’Neill later made clear he wanted Iheanacho to remain in Glasgow and confirmed Celtic had put a new offer on the table. The door was open. The club expected a conversation.

Iheanacho walked through a different one.

Last week he signed for Bursaspor, the ambitious Turkish side who won the TFF Second League last season and are chasing back-to-back promotions to return to the Super Lig. It is a bold move: leaving a title-winning environment at Celtic for a club still climbing its way back to the elite.

In his first interview as a Bursaspor player, Iheanacho made it clear the decision was driven by conviction, not compromise. He spoke of his happiness and excitement at the switch and underlined the stature of his new home.

“To be fair, Bursaspor is a big club in Turkey,” he said, adding that he already knew of their history as former Turkish Super Lig champions.

For a striker in his prime, it is a calculated gamble. For Bursaspor, it is a statement that promotion is not just a target, but an expectation.