‘Surprised’ – What shocked Shay Given about Celtic signing Kieran Tierney from Arsenal

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Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic has been long-awaited.

The former Arsenal defender returned to Parkhead this week after Celtic officially announced Tierney on social media.

Out of contract at the end of this season, Tierney was free to speak to any club he wanted but it was clear that Celtic were the only ones he wanted to sign for.

Tierney knocked back clubs like Everton to sign for the Hoops and here, Newcastle United legend Shay Given explains what shocked him about the deal.

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Shay Given says Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic is a ‘special journey’

Given was promoting Celtic’s upcoming friendly with Newcastle United when he was asked about Kieran Tierney returning to Paradise.

The former Celtic goalkeeper was clearly delighted at the news and said that the Scotland defender has been on a ‘special journey’.

Given told Celtic TV [3m], “I mean it’s a special journey he’s been on in the sense to come all the way back now. It’s fantastic that he’s that he’s come back to Celtic still very much in his prime.

“It’s not as if he’s coming back at the end of his career. He’s still got his whole career ahead of himself both for Celtic and for Scotland as well.

“Again his experiences in the Premier League playing for such a big club in Arsenal and what he’s learned under a different manager in Mikel Arteta and the messages that he sends out every day to his players and the standards that he set.”

Shay Given can’t believe Celtic signed Kieran Tierney for free

Celtic sold Tierney for £25m to Arsenal back in 2019. Now returning to Parkhead on a free transfer, Given admits to being shocked by one thing about the deal.

“I’m sure Brendan’s not too dissimilar to Arteta in a sense that the standards he sets here at Celtic as well. So I think Kieran’s experience to the younger players and to sort of to come back and go, ‘This is my club’ and what it means to him.

“I know he’s a diehard Celtic fan and I’m surprised that other clubs weren’t fighting over his signature on a free transfer as well.

“So it’s a great coup I think for Celtic to bring him back and I’m sure he’s really excited to put on the green and white hoops again.”

Tierney will likely make his Celtic Park debut in the friendly against Newcastle and fans are likely to flock to the game now.

With just over a month to go until Newcastle come calling, Celtic supporters will be hoping that there will be more new faces added to the squad to play against Eddie Howe’s side.