Nadir Ciftci is set to make a return to Scottish football, nearly 4 years on from officially leaving Celtic.
Ciftci was handed the no.7 shirt by Ronny Deila, and was brought into Parkhead in 2015 for £1.5m [BBC]. His agent, former Hoops striker Pierre van Hooijdonk, helped to secure the move after Ciftci had scored 14 league goals for Dundee United the year prior [Transfermarkt].
However, it didn’t quite work out for Ciftci. Officially, he left the club in 2018 [Celtic FC], after loan spells with Plymouth Argyle, Eskisehirspor, Pogon Szczecin and latterly, Motherwell.
Now, though, St Johnstone have announced that Ciftci is back in the Scottish game. Having departed MKE Ankaragucu, Ciftci has returned to the Scottish Premiership with Callum Davidson’s Saints.
The Perth side are bottom of the table [BBC], but 30-year-old Ciftci still has some credit in Scotland for his scoring antics in the colours of Dundee United between 2013 and 2015.
Ciftci said [St Johnstone]: “I spent five years in Scottish football so I know all about the SPFL Premiership.
“Even though I have been away for a few years, I still kept up an interest in Scottish football.
“I was well aware of St Johnstone winning the two Cups last season. It was an unbelievable achievement and it was well deserved.
“So, when Callum Davidson phoned me he didn’t need to persuade me to make the move. I know what St Johnstone is all about and it is a very good Football Club.”
A former Celtic no.7 returns to Scottish Football; welcome back Nadir Ciftci
As beloved as Ronny Deila is in some quarters, his approach to buying centre-forwards was… well, interesting, to say the least.
For every John Guidetti, a Carlton Cole. Or a Colin Kazim-Richards. Or, indeed, a Nadir Ciftci. While the Turkish striker had performed admirably under Jackie McNamara at Dundee United, he just never really seemed a natural fit for the style of football Deila actually wanted.
That, and giving him the number 7 shirt, probably did his reputation some irreparable harm. But Ciftci never put in anything less than 100%. Ultimately, though, 4 goals in 26 games tells its own story.
It was sad, in a way, because of what he’d done at an exciting Dundee United team. 33 goals and 20 assists in 82 Tangerines outings was extremely impressive, and he was a hot commodity in the Scottish top-flight at the time. A big move was going to come.
After some years in relative footballing wilderness, it’s great to see him back in the Scottish game.
And, technically, he has two Scottish Premiership titles to his name. So, for St Johnstone, it’s an interesting move.
Read more: The Celtic stalwart who has most to gain from aggressive Hoops recruitment
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