Celtic is witnessing an increasing trend of academy graduates leaving the club in pursuit of first-team opportunities elsewhere, as evidenced by Daniel Kelly’s recent move to Millwall.
As Celtic fans eagerly await new signings before the transfer window closes, there’s growing concern over the departure of two of their brightest young talents. Daniel Kelly, a highly-rated midfielder, is the latest to leave Parkhead, following in the footsteps of forward Rocco Vata, who exited earlier this summer.
Kelly has signed a pre-contract with Millwall and will join the English Championship side in January when his Celtic contract expires at the end of December. The 18-year-old turned down offers from Premier League clubs, German sides, and MLS teams to make the move to South London.
Despite being offered a new contract by Brendan Rodgers, Kelly opted to leave after failing to receive assurances about his role at the club. Similarly, Vata, 19, chose to join Watford on a four-year contract earlier this summer. Vata, an Ireland youth international, made a strong impression by scoring his first goal for Celtic in a 5-0 win against Buckie Thistle in January but was limited to just three minutes of playing time for the rest of the season.
These departures raise significant questions about the pathway to the first team for Celtic’s academy graduates. The step up from youth football to senior-level competition is a challenging one, especially in the intense atmosphere of Scottish football, where the Old Firm rivalry places immense pressure on players to perform.
Managers, including Rodgers, often feel compelled to rely on experienced players to meet the high expectations at Celtic, leaving promising young talents like Kelly and Vata with limited opportunities. Under Rodgers’ management, both players ultimately decided that their futures lay elsewhere.
Celtic has a storied history of producing top talent from its academy, with players like James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston, and Mikey Johnston becoming key members of the first team. Kieran Tierney, another academy graduate, has gone on to play for elite clubs in Europe.
However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of youth players breaking into the senior squad. Many are sent out on loan or leave the club before getting their chance. This trend has frustrated sections of the fanbase, particularly in light of Rodgers’ comments regarding Kelly before pre-season, where he indicated that Kelly’s future at the club was uncertain.
Kelly, who made six first-team appearances for Celtic, was highly regarded within the club. However, when a new deal could not be agreed upon, he was excluded from pre-season plans, making his departure almost inevitable. Kelly made his senior debut under Rodgers but sought more consistent first-team opportunities, which he believes he can achieve at Millwall. The Championship club’s commitment to developing young talent was demonstrated when 18-year-old Alfie Massey made his professional debut in a recent Carabao Cup win against Portsmouth.
Both Kelly and Vata had attracted interest from elite clubs. Italian side Torino and several Premier League and Serie A clubs were tracking Vata before he opted for Watford, where he has already made his first start in a 5-0 Carabao Cup victory against MK Dons. Kelly, meanwhile, turned down offers from top European clubs, including Tottenham and Bayer Leverkusen, to join Millwall in pursuit of a faster path to first-team football.
Losing young talents like Kelly is undoubtedly a blow for Celtic, and the trend of academy graduates leaving the club could have long-term consequences. As Kelly embarks on his journey to establish himself as a first-team player at Millwall, Celtic fans will be left wondering if the club’s loss is ultimately Millwall’s gain.
