Celtic face Rangers this weekend in what is being billed as one of the biggest Old Firms in recent memory, with just three points separating the two Scottish giants at the top of the table.
The Hoops currently lead the standings with Ange Postecoglou flourishing in his first season as Celtic boss, with his work in the transfer market being incredibly impressive, with the Australian coach tapping into new markets not many British clubs usually source for new players.
Indeed, Celtic have had some outstanding players come through the club, and with that in mind, we’re going to look at some of the best names to have played for the Hoops during the early stages of their career, and what an XI would look if they decided to keep their young prospects.
GK: Fraser Forster
Fraser Forster made the move to Glasgow in 2012 from Newcastle United, and the now-Southampton number one quickly made a name for himself at Celtic Park as the best English keeper outside the Premier League.
Now back in the Three Lions set-up, Forster has been a solid shot-stopper since returning to England, with the 34-year-old even spending a season back with Celtic on-loan in 2019/20, with the keeper returning to his best for Southampton since.
RB: Jeremie Frimpong
Bayer Leverkusen signed Jeremie Frimpong in 2020 after breaking into the Celtic XI following his move from Manchester City, and the defender is beginning to look like a bargain signing for the Bundesliga side.
The Dutch youth international has been in spectacular form for one of Germany’s most exciting clubs this season, and with a big move reportedly on the horizon, Celtic could already be regretting selling Frimpong for as little as £10m.
CB: Kristoffer Ajer
A Football Manager legend back in his day, Kristoffer Ajer was a great servant for Celtic before making a Premier League move to Brentford last summer, where the Norwegian has impressed.
Noted for their smart signings, the Bees look set to reclaim Premier League status next campaign in the first year back in the top-flight in over 80 years, and former Celtic star Ajer has been key to that success, with the defender being a regular for Thomas Frank’s side.
CB: Virgil van Dijk
What is there to say about Virgil van Dijk that hasn’t been said already. The Dutch international left Celtic for Southampton in 2015 and has since moved onto Liverpool and become arguably one of the best defenders in Premier League history.
Second to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or voting and both a European and Premier League champions, Van Dijk continues to be one of the best centre-backs in world football and a key player for Liverpool this season as they look to topple Manchester City yet again in the English top-flight.
LB: Kieran Tierney
A Celtic academy product and the club’s record sale, the departure of Kieran Tierney to Arsenal in 2019 was one that really stung Hoops supporters. Yet the defender has since established himself as one of the top players at the north London club and one of the finest fullbacks in Europe.
Tipped to take the armband next season, Tierney is a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium and one of Arsenal’s most important players as Mikel Arteta’s side aim to finish in the top-four this season.
RM: Stuart Armstrong
Joining Celtic at 22, Stuart Armstrong quickly established himself as one of the most exciting wingers in Scotland and a player who looked destined to go to the top, and it was no surprise to see the winger follow the same path as both Forster and Van Dijk.
Armstrong joined Southampton in 2018 and has since remained a consistent performer for the south coast side, as well as a regular for the Scottish national team alongside other former and current Celtic players.
CM: Ryan Christie
Another Scotsman to elevate their game when joining Celtic, Ryan Christie was key to Neil Lennon’s 2019 and 2022 SPL title wins before leaving for AFC Bournemouth last summer.
Now a key member of Scott Parker’s midfield, Christie could be playing Premier League football next season as the Cherries fight for promotion back up to the English top-flight two years after being relegated.
CM: Victor Wanyama
Our fourth and final Celtic player to make the move to Southampton, Victor Wanyama retains a special place in Premier League history for his time both with the Saints and at Tottenham, as well as his pasta related antics on Twitter.
Now a star player for CF Montreal in MLS, Wanyama will go down as one of the most remembered Africans in Premier League football as well as part of the Celtic team that famously beat FC Barcelona 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League.
LM: Jota
The only player in this XI to still be at Celtic, it would be something of an understatement to say that Jota has been a sensation at Parkhead since his arrival last summer on loan from Benfica.
Blessed with incredible technical ability, a banging chant and sky-high potential, Jota is a player many Celtic fans will be hopeful remains at the club beyond this season, with Postecoglou’s no doubt working behind the scenes to make his loan deal permanent this summer.
ST: Odsonne Edouard
With 88 goals across four full seasons at Celtic, the departure of Odsonne Edouard was always going to hurt the Hoops when the Frenchman eventually left for Crystal Palace last summer.
At 24, the striker is performing well in his debut year in the Premier League, and under Patrick Vieira, Edouard could become a superstar under the iconic French midfielder during their time together at Selhurst Park.
ST: Moussa Dembele
Another French striker to steal the hearts of Celtic fans, Moussa Dembele was only in Glasgow for two seasons, but what an impact the former Fulham star left on the Scottish giants.
Now a superstar for Olympique Lyonnais, Dembele has taken his goalscoring talents back to his homeland, with a move back to England now being touted by some in the upcoming transfer window.
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