This £1m Johnny Kenny valuation signals Celtic exit for Irish striker

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The Celtic Star

·29 giugno 2025

This £1m Johnny Kenny valuation signals Celtic exit for Irish striker

Johnny Kenny broke into the Celtic first team squad during the second half of last campaign and made a few appearances from the bench, scoring on his first start in a Celtic shirt at Pittodrie in a thumping 5-1 win.

Johnny Kenny celebrates. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

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The Irishman with all due respect was only drafted in due to personnel issues up front due to the surprise sale of Kyogo in the January transfer window, and the club’s failure to replace him left us with no other choice but to call on Johnny who was not long back from a loan spell with Shamrock Rovers.

Johnny certainly gave his all in a Celtic shirt, but it’s clear he’s not got much of a future as a regular fixture in the first team, especially if Brendan Rodgers lands the new striker he so badly craves as he eyes further progress in the UEFA Champions League.

Johnny Kenny. theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The Irish striker was last week the subject of a lowball bid from English side Bolton Wanderers, believed to be in the region of £500,000 which I actually reckon was too good to turn down.

But Celtic did knock it back as the club is apparently looking for at least double that price, valuing Johnny Kenny at, £1 million at least. That’s of course Celtic’s prerogative, but half a million and a possible sell on clause for a player who cost around £100,000 and doesn’t seem to be in the manager’s future plans seems fair and reasonable to me.

Johnny Kenny and Liam Scales checking the results ahead of St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

There’s been talk of another loan spell, but where’s the sense in that? For both the player and the club if the manager has made the call then a parting of the ways might be best all round.

It’s best for all concerned if we just cash in on Johnny Kenny and put the money to better use elsewhere. If Michael Nicholson can get £1m for the Irishman, with a decent sell-on clause built in then that’s even better.

Probably, if they can afford it, Bolton will return this week with a meet in the middle offer and that’s likely going to get the deal done.

Writing on The Celtic Star yesterday, Niall J explored another option that Celtic could consider which might, in Niall’s view, be a more satisfactory option, but ultimately it all comes down to what the manager thinks. And factoring that in I reckon that a parting of the ways now is the best option for all parties.

Johnny Kenny scores in the Scottish Cup final penalty shoot out defeat to Aberdeen. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Many Celtic supporters, myself included, will be sad to see Johnny Kenny leave as he looks a really good finisher but it’s Brendan’s call and if he does go he’ll go with everyone’s best wishes.

Football can be such a harsh business.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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