Kieran Tierney reveals the Arsenal teammate he is attempting to turn into a Celtic supporter

By Lewis Laird

January 26, 2023

Former Celtic defender Kieran Tierney has revealed he has been attempting to make Arsenal teammate Takehiro Tomiyasu a Hoops supporter.

This has come after the Japanese defender provided the former Hoops academy graduate with the inside track on the Bhoys’ current Japanese players.

Tierney is currently part of the Gunners squad, which holds a healthy advantage at the top of the English Premier League.

However, as Celtic fans are well aware, the left-back is a lifelong Hoops supporter, even after his departure from the club in 2019.

So despite playing his football south of the border, he will still be keeping a close eye on all the on-goings at Celtic Park.

Of course, since Tierney left for Arsenal, there has been plenty of change around Paradise, with the introduction of a new manager and an almost entirely new squad.

Only a few familiar faces have survived from his time at the club; fellow academy graduates such as Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Anthony Ralston are some of the few players to still be at Parkhead.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has had to build a whole new squad, with signings coming from across the globe. One of the most prominent nations being Japan, after the 57-year-old’s spell managing in the J-League.

Tierney may no longer be amongst the Celtic Park dressing room; however, he still has his links to some of the newer players in the squad.

Speaking in a recent interview, the Scotland international revealed he has been getting the inside track on the Bhoys Japanese players from Arsenal teammate and Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu.

The versatile defender has played alongside most of the six Japanese players in the Celtic squad and was even spotted out for lunch with midfielder Reo Hatate last week.

Tierney shared that he has learnt more about the likes of Kyogo and Daizen Maeda through Tomiyasu, and the left-back has even tried to turn him into a Celtic supporter.

He said [Sun Sport]: “I speak to Tomi a lot. I didn’t know much about the boys who came in from Japan before, and it’s the same with the two signed over the last month.

“I don’t see the J-League, and so I’ve been asking Tomi for info and his thoughts on them as players. Daizen Maeda was with Tomi in the Japan squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

“Tomi’s been very positive about all the boys signed, and that’s been good to hear. He’s a great player himself and an excellent teammate. He’s good company.

“I’m always speaking to Tomi, and if ever there’s a Celtic game on at the training ground, he sits and watches it with me. I’ve tried to make him a Celtic fan!

“It’s funny, but Tomi’s seen that old video of me being presented with boots by Shunsuke Nakamura when I was just a kid at Celtic.

“He was aware of it a long time ago. Nakamura was one of Tomi’s heroes growing up, but that goes for so many of the Japanese players all over the world.”

Although Tierney may no longer be a Celtic player, he is clearly still a supporter as he looks to find out more about the club’s new signings from his Arsenal teammate!

As mentioned, he has even gone as far as trying to make Tomiyasu a Celtic fan, with the defenders links to current and past players at Parkhead.

It is always funny to hear reactions like this from top-level players because it’s simply something you expect from supporters, not some of the best players in the Premier League.

But at heart, the majority of footballers were once those fans, and in Tierney’s case, he still sees himself as a supporter of Celtic.

In other news, Celtic fans will find out more about Hyeongyu Oh shortly; Celtic Park event set