Kelechi Iheanacho Breaks Silence on Celtic Exit and Reveals the Reason He Pushed for the Bursaspor Move
Kelechi Iheanacho has finally spoken publicly about his departure from Celtic this summer, and the picture he paints is clear: this wasn’t just a contract dispute. It was a player who saw an opportunity and went after it.
The 29-year-old Nigeria international completed a move to Turkish club Bursaspor, signing a three-year contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2029. He left Celtic as a free agent after his contract expired on June 30, with the Scottish champions offering him fresh terms after deciding against triggering the automatic 12-month extension in his previous deal.
The exit surprised many. Celtic wanted him, Iheanacho said he hoped to stay, and no transfer fee was required. Yet the deal still fell apart. Manager Martin O’Neill was candid about his frustration, saying: “I thought we had a deal with him at the time, but seemingly that wasn’t the case and so he’s gone to pastures new.”
But Iheanacho has now set the record straight on why he walked. After being unveiled as a Bursaspor player, he explained his thinking directly: “When I heard about their project, that they wanted to climb up to the Super Lig and also play in Europe, I said that this is a big project and it’s very good for me to come and be involved and help the team. To be fair, Bursaspor is a big club in Turkiye and I had heard that they had previously won the Turkish Super Lig. So I asked my agent to make sure he does everything possible to make sure I come to Bursaspor.”
He even found a familiar comfort in the move: “It’s the same green and white [as Celtic], to be fair. I don’t know if it’s deja vu, like they say in French.”
Reports had suggested money was the main driver, with some sources claiming Bursaspor were offering around £47,000 a week, but the club’s president Enes Celik denied this, confirming Iheanacho would earn £23,000 per week and that he chose the move for the project, not the money.
His departure is a real blow for Celtic considering what he produced last season. Despite being limited by injuries, the striker finished with nine goals in 24 appearances, scoring five times in his final eight outings, all as a substitute, including decisive late winners against Motherwell, Dundee and Hibernian as Celtic retained the Premiership title. He also scored in Celtic’s 3-1 Scottish Cup final victory over Dunfermline, completing the domestic double.
Bursaspor, who won the 2025/26 TFF 2. Lig title to secure automatic promotion, believe Iheanacho’s experience at both club and international level will add quality and leadership as they target a return to the Turkish top flight.
For Celtic, the search for a striker continues. The club have signed just one player this summer, Qarabag forward Camilo Duran for a reported £6 million, though O’Neill has indicated there has been “progress” in their pursuit of further additions.
Iheanacho leaves Parkhead with a domestic double medal and a reputation as one of the most reliable impact players in the league last season. Celtic will miss him. He’s already moved on.
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