Matthew Anderson leaves Celtic, signing three-year deal with Belgian side

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The Celtic Star

·27 juin 2025

Matthew Anderson leaves Celtic, signing three-year deal with Belgian side

As Celtic welcome a new signing to the club in the shape of Benjamin Nygren, it appears, a promising youngster is heading for the exit..

Leipzig, 05 10 2022, RBL Trainingszentrum am Cottaweg, Football, 2022 2023 season, U19 Juniors, UEFA Youth League, Group Stage , RB Leipzig U19 Celtic Glasgow U19 1 2 0 2 , Pictured f l Matthew Anderson 63, Celtic and Aris Bayindir 17, RB Leipzig , photo Imago

Newsquest’s Celtic Way site is reporting today that another one of Celtic’s own is heading off in search of first-team football, as highly-rated left-back Matthew Anderson looks to be heading to Belgian outfit KV Kortrijk.

Vidéos OneFootball

According to the report, the 21-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the West Flanders side after completing his medical earlier this week, bringing his time at Celtic to an end. And from my own point of view that’s a bit of a shame because I did like the look of him and hoped he might be given an opportunity to act as Kieran Tierney’s understudy, if or almost certainly when Greg Taylor moves on officially.

Anderson, a Scotland U21 international and former B Team captain, has spent the last two seasons developing abroad with Admira Wacker, the Austrian partner club where he became an big part of a side that came close to promotion last season.

Celtic defender Matthew Anderson during their match against Chelsea at Notre Dame Stadium. Celtic won 4-1. South Bend Notre Dame Stadium IN USA, Photo Matt Cashore

Back home, however, a breakthrough into Celtic’s first team never quite materialised. Despite a promising pre-season in the States last summer—where he faced up to DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea—Anderson remained on the fringes under Brendan Rodgers, who will know better than any of us what it takes to cut it as a first team player.

Now, with Kieran Tierney returning, and undoubtedly first pick at left back, the decision it seems has been made by club and player to move on.<

Kortrijk suffered relegation from Belgium’s top flight last term, but they have a new boss, Michiel Jonckheere, in the dugout and it seems some serious ambition off the park. It looks like they’re aiming for a swift return to the top league and they see Anderson as a part of those ambitious plans.

It’s also been reported that there was plenty of interest in Anderson, from Scotland, England and abroad including Exeter City, French side Toulouse, and a handful of Austrian clubs, and apparently from Aberdeen and Hearts too.

And while the transfer fee is apparently low, it seems Celtic have protected their interest with a significant sell-on clause, which would seem a very wise move from the club.

I’ll admit to being a little surprised at this one as it is only recently as we brought to you on The Celtic Star that B-Team coach Stephen McManus was singing Anderson’s praises. I guess that was ahead of a transfer, rather than a promotion to the first team squad.

Here’s what McManus had to say for those who missed it.

“He’s got a massive future. He’s outgrown the B team for a while now. This move is the next step for him to show what he’s really capable of. He’s a brilliant lad, comes from a solid family, and he works his socks off.”

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This is one of those quietly significant moments that might one day be looked back on with pride but hopefully not regret. Because there’s something about Anderson, his development, and the way he’s applied himself abroad, that was impressive.

Matthew Anderson may be leaving Celtic for Belgium, however, his story might just be beginning. And whilst sorry to see him go, I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on his progress and hoping he’s a huge success with his new club.

Maybe we’ll see him back at Celtic one day, like Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan.

Here’s former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou talking about Matthew Anderson after he signed his contact with Celtic.

🗣 "Over the course of the next 6-12 months they'll start to make an impact at first team level, I really believe that." 🎙 Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media about Matthew Anderson's contract extension and progress within the #CelticFCB side ⤵️ #COYBIG🍀
– mardi 17 janvier 2023

It must be frustrating for the emerging talent at the club and it certainly is for the support who want to see home grown talent given their chance and some breaking through like both James Forrest and Callum McGregor did back in the day.

Niall J

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