Brendan Rodgers reveals the financial sacrifice Kieran Tierney made to seal return to Celtic

Daily Record

13-07-2025

More than six years after his final game away to Aberdeen, Tierney made his second debut in Lisbon.
It's like he has never been away.
That was Brendan Rodgers ' verdict as Kieran Tierney pulled back on the Hoops.
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More than six years after his final game away to Aberdeen, Tierney made his second debut in Lisbon.
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The defender slotted into a makeshift backline which featured Auston Trusty plus youngsters Colby Donovan and Ben McPherson in a 3-2 closed-doors defeat to Estrela da Amadora.
It was only a 45-minute cameo for the returning hero but Rodgers revealed that was always the plan as the club's international stars returned to action.
He said: 'Yeah, 45. The likes of those other guys as well. It's the first minutes of pre-season so really good to get them on the field.
'It was like Kieran had never been away really. So we know his strengths, we know his qualities and we know he's going to be a big plus.
'I think those guys who came in are a week or so behind physically.
'In that space, you're maybe 10 sessions short of the other players. But that will come, that will take time.
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'But you can see from the 45 that he's still in a good place and building fitness which is what pre-season is all about.'
It's believed Tierney turned down lucrative offers from Europe's elite – including Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Sevilla – to seal an emotional return to his boyhood club.
Rodgers said: 'In isolation, Kieran coming back is brilliant for the team.
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'Make no doubt about it, Kieran has sacrificed to come back here in a financial way because he really wanted to come back.
'But to have that player of the quality and experience that he has now, it's going to be really big for us.
'We want to make strides in European football so to bring that level of playerin will certainly help us to do that.
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'I think it tells you everything about what he missed and that feeling that he missed when he left.
'I know the clubs involved because I was part of the process in bringing him back so I know where he could have gone.
'But this always felt the right place for him when we spoke months ago. I'm really happy for him.
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'He's not even at his peak age yet, he's still got a lot of years left in him and hopefully we'll have them here at Celtic which I know he's really excited about.'
Rodgers has always had a close relationship with the left-back, stretching back to his all-conquering first spell at Parkhead.
After rubber-stamping a five-year deal to re-sign the £25million star on a free transfer, Rodgers kept in regular contact as Tierney wound down his career at Arsenal last term.
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The pair even met last month in Majorca for acoffee. Rodgers revealed: 'I've been in contact with him throughout the months.
'When I knew he was going out there for a few days before meeting up with Scotland, we arranged to meet up.
'I tend to do that. I met with Callum (McGregor) as well. It's nice to reassure him.
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'I know what that feeling's like having been somewhere and coming back and the wonder of what it might be like and feel like.
'But it's not really until you're back here that you really sense it. That's probably what it's like for him. It's probably a little bit strange initially but once he gets to Celtic Park, he will feel really at home again.'
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While Tierney's blockbuster homecoming is a statement of intent from Celtic, Rodgers knows he'll have to manage the 28-year-old's minutes carefully.
The Scotland star has endured an injury-plagued few seasons and Rodgers made it clear he won't be relied upon every week as Celts seek a deputy left-back before the transfer window shuts.
He added: 'There are certain players that will break. We had to look at that because it has to be more than the emotional side.
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'The last few years, he's been unfortunate as well with some of the injuries he has picked up.
'We feel with the management, with him and with how we work, we can keep him fit for as long as we possibly can.
'He doesn't need to be available for every single game. To have a successful season, we need to have a really good squad that we can rotate and that includes him.
'It's just great to have him back. He's on his way through the gears and we know a fully-fit Kieran is a massive boost.'