James Penrice has emerged as a possible left-back target for Celtic.
Following the confirmation that Marcelo Saracchi’s future lies elsewhere, Martin O’Neill is now in need of reinforcements in one of the only positions in the team which was stable last season.
In Penrice, the Hoops could add a homegrown option with over 150 Scottish Premiership games under his belt as well as European experience.
Despite his familiarity to the Scottish game, some fans may not know a lot about Penrice – we’ve got all you need to know.
🏴 Would you take James Penrice at Celtic? 👇️
What is James Penrice’s birthplace, height and weight?
James Regan Penrice was born in 22 December 1998 in Livingston. He is 5 ft 10 in tall and weighs 73 kg (161 lbs) according to the AEK Athens website.
Who has James Penrice played for?
Penrice is a product of the Partick Thistle academy, making his senior debut for the club in May 2016 against Dundee United, aged 17.
After spells on loan at East Fife and Livingston, he was integrated into the Jags’ first team upon their relegation to the Scottish Championship in 2018, establishing himself as a key player.
READ MORE: Will Ferry ‘on Celtic radar’ as Parkhead scouts watch Dundee United man
It was a torrid period for the Maryhill club which saw them relegated to League One in 2020. Penrice was one of just two players who remained with Thistle all the way from the Premiership to the third tier.
After winning League One at the first time of asking, he returned to Livingston on a permanent basis in the Scottish Premiership
Throughout the next three years, he was a regular starter under Davie Martindale, eventually earning a move to Hearts in 2024.
Penrice’s debut season at Tynecastle was a major breakthrough which saw him named as the club’s Player of the Year, also earning a spot in the Scottish PFA Team of the Season.
After interest in the UK, he made the move to Greece.
Who is to blame for Marcelo Saracchi not returning to Celtic? 🤔
The left-back has made his feelings clear….👀🍀
What type of player is James Penrice?
Penrice is an athletic, up-and-down left-back who wants to get forward and contribute in the final third.
His years under Martindale at Livi undoubtedly gave him a worthwhile defensive footing, but his attacking impact was what earned him the move to Greece.
Undoubtedly, Penrice’s standout attribute is his pace. Running both on and off the ball, the 27-year-old can be extremely hard to catch.
It’s not a dissimilar profile to that of Saracchi, making him a sensible option as a replacement.
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