Dylan Reid explains why he turned down Celtic before joining Crystal Palace

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Former St Mirren wonderkid Dylan Reid admits he had concerns about joining Celtic before putting pen to paper with Premier League outfit Crystal Palace instead, speaking to the Scottish Sun. 

On the final day of the January transfer window, Reid became the latest in a series of exciting young talents to up sticks and graduate from their Scottish finishing school.  

The teenage midfielder, following in the footsteps of Calvin Ramsay, Josh Doig, Aaron Hickey and more, joined Crystal Palace on a three-and-a-half year contract. 

Dylan Reid joins Crystal Palace after Celtic snub

“I’m able to focus on my football and working to become the best player I can possibly become, which is what it’s all about. The set-up is brilliant at Palace,” Reid explains. “The club is geared towards youth and bringing through their own players. 

“The plan is for me to play for the Under-18s between now and the end of the season, before going in with the Under-21s from next summer.

“As soon as (the training sessions) started, I knew this is where I wanted to be. The standard was brilliant, and the coaches involved everyone. I really feel I am going to develop and progress at Palace.

“They are big on individual development. And that’s been great so far.” 

You can say the same of Celtic, of course. But, despite the obvious temptations of working under a coach as renowned in youth development circles as Ange Postecoglou, Reid had reservations about a move to Parkhead. He had little interest in honing his talents with their reserves in the fifth-tier of Scottish football. 

“I spoke to Ange Postecoglou,” says Reid, who turned down the Hoops some six months before rocking up at Selhurst Park.

“We had a good chat and he explained what it would be like if I went to Celtic.

“At Celtic, I’d have been in their B-team. I didn’t feel that would suit me. I’m sure, had I gone to Celtic, I’d have taken my game to another level. (But) I didn’t think playing in the Lowland League was the best thing for me now.”