Kelechi Iheanacho was selected by Brendan Rodgers as the man to lead the line for Celtic this season.
Kyogo Furuhashi departed Celtic Park in January, but no replacement was signed and the project signings of Shin Yamada and Callum Osmand have yet to cut it.
A twist that nobody expected was Adam Idah’s sudden departure to Swansea, which, in spite of being a valuable sale for the club, left the side even shorter on attacking talent.
Iheanacho stepped in, signing for the Hoops after his contract was cancelled by Sevilla to allow the move to go through.
It’s early days but the Nigeria international is already proving fans wrong and has made an excellent start to his Celtic career, and looks like the Iheanacho that Rodgers got the best out of.
Here is everything you need to know about Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho, including your most frequently asked questions.
Who is Kelechi Iheanacho?
Iheanacho was deemed one of Africa’s brightest hopes as a teenager. Breaking through for Nigeria at the Under-17 World Cup in 2013, he earned suitors throughout Europe, opting to join Manchester City a year later.
In his first season playing for City, he scored eight Premier League goals, averaging a goal every 92 minutes – a frankly ridiculous record for a teenager in that division.
With Pep Guardiola’s arrival the following season, his minutes became more limited, though he still managed to score against Celtic in that season’s Champions League. He joined Leicester for £24 million, the next year.
The Nigerian was a valuable squad player throughout Rodgers’ time at Leicester, but given the presence of Jamie Vardy and James Maddison in the Foxes’ attack, he was never a nailed-on starter.
How old is Kelechi Iheanacho?
Iheanacho was born on 3 October 1996, in Imo State, Nigeria but has spent the majority of his life in the UK after joining Manchester City as a teenager.
As of September, 2025, he is 28, shortly to turn 29.
Kelechi Iheanacho height and weight
Iheanacho is 1.85m tall, or six feet and one inch. This makes him one of the taller players in the squad.
As for his weight, EA Sports FC 26 states that the forward weighs 82kg.
Does Kelechi Iheanacho have a wife and son?
There is no official confirmation to suggest that Iheanacho has a wife and son.
He has been spotted calling someone ‘Love’ on his social media, but he has never publicly spoken about his relationship status.
When did Kelechi Iheanacho make his Celtic debut?
Iheanacho made his debut in a 2-1 win against Kilmarnock on Sunday 14 September 2025, just days after he joined on a free transfer.
Introduced as a second-half substitute, the Nigerian announced himself to the Hoops faithful in perfect style by taking a 96th minute penalty in front of the away fans to score the winner at Rugby Park.
Since then, he grabbed an assist in the Premier Sports Cup against Partick Thistle and a goal vs Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League.
How do you pronounce Kelechi Iheanacho’s name?
Kelechi is pronounced how it looks (Kel-Ech-ee). His surname is pronounced “Ea-nach-oh.” Hear him saying it here.
What has Brendan Rodgers said about Kelechi Iheanacho?
While managing him at Leicester, Brendan Rodgers spoke very highly of Iheanacho, particularly praising his charisma and attitude, which have been noted for praise throughout his career.
Rodgers also praised his tactical flexibility, given his preference for using multiple different systems during his time at Leicester.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “He is very charismatic. He genuinely comes in with a smile on his face every day. He loves his football. That is a great starting point. He is at his maximum every day. He works hard every day.
“I cannot remember him missing a day of training since I have been here. He helps our centre-backs to become better at their jobs because he is really aggressive with them.
“That has not always been enough to see him start, but he is a player who has a great attitude. He is very much a team player. Some guys, especially strikers, they can maybe just think of themselves and be individualistic. Soloists. He is very much a team player.”
Given Celtic’s lack of centre-forward options at the moment, he would likely take the place of Kyogo or Idah in the frontline, should he come to Celtic Park.
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