Transfers

Kieron Bowie confirms Celtic links but reveals why move was never on

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Celtic supporters can put any lingering transfer talk to bed after Kieron Bowie made his position clear on a potential move.

Links to Celtic and Rangers had surfaced during his time at Hibs. That noise has now been addressed directly by the player himself.

Bowie acknowledged that interest had been mentioned, but his thinking was already set. His next step was never going to be in Scotland.

That clarity matters when assessing whether Celtic missed an opportunity. Bowie’s answer reveals all.

Kieron Bowie to Celtic… yes or no?

Kieron Bowie during Hibs' qualifier against Legia Warsaw
Photo by Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Celtic interest in Bowie was real but former Hibs man was not interested

Bowie confirmed Celtic and Rangers interest had cropped up during his time at Easter Road.

However, interest alone does not mean a transfer move was forthcoming. The player’s intention is clear as Bowie outlines why a Celtic move was never on the cards.

The former Hibs man said, “I think a few times, maybe something had been mentioned. I didn’t want to stay in Scotland, or even in the UK. I wanted to try and do something a bit different, culturally, and experience something new.”

That quote leaves little room for interpretation. Celtic may have been aware of the player, but the conditions for a deal were never in place.

For the move to happen, both Celtic and Bowie would need to want it to go ahead. And while Bowie’s stance is very clear, it seems the Parkhead club had no chance of signing the player.

Celtic avoided a transfer that was never viable

Bowie’s reasoning goes beyond a standard transfer preference. He was not choosing between clubs, he was choosing between countries and experiences.

That removed Celtic from the equation entirely. A move within Scotland was simply not in Bowie’s long-term plans.

From a recruitment standpoint, that fact is important. Celtic cannot secure players who have already ruled out staying in the league they currently play in.

Celtic’s transfer decision-making is often criticised. In this instance, there was no decision to make because Bowie had no intentions of staying in Scotland.

That leaves no grey area. Interest existed, but it was never going to develop into anything concrete.

Celtic did not lose out here. The move was never on the table in the first place.