Celtic have confirmed the return of Ross Doohan to Parkhead, with the 26-year-old goalkeeper signing a three-year deal to rejoin the club where he spent over a decade in the youth ranks.
Doohan replaces Scott Bain in the squad, who departed the club at the end of last season and has since joined newly-promoted Falkirk. The move sees Doohan come in as third-choice keeper behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo, offering depth and familiarity to Brendan Rodgers’ goalkeeping department.
Doohan’s football journey has been anything but straightforward since he first left Celtic. He’s gathered valuable first-team experience across the SPFL and English lower leagues, turning out for the likes of Ayr United, Ross County, Dundee United, Tranmere Rovers, and Forest Green Rovers before a two-year spell at Aberdeen. His performances were recently rewarded with a first senior Scotland cap in a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein earlier this month.
Now back where it all began, Doohan is relishing the opportunity to wear the Hoops again.
“I’m over the moon,” he said. “Coming through the Academy, spending 11 years there and now to be coming back, it’s an amazing feeling. It was always the dream to come back. I knew at the starting point of my career that I needed to go away and play games and hopefully the opportunity would come up to come back to the club, which I always wanted to do and thankfully that’s happened now.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers also welcomed the keeper’s return, highlighting the maturity and professionalism Doohan brings to the group.
“I am really pleased that we are bringing Ross back to Celtic,” Rodgers said. “He knows the club so well and has grown up understanding the demands of the club. He has gone away, got some great experience, really focused on developing himself at some good clubs, so much so that he has now achieved his first Scotland cap, a great moment for him and his family. Ross is a really talented goalkeeper, hungry to achieve more, but he is a humble guy with a tremendous attitude to the game. I am sure he can be a real asset to our squad.”
Celtic’s goalkeeping department now boasts depth, experience, and homegrown continuity heading into the new campaign. Doohan’s return adds a familiar face to the dressing room and continues the club’s strategy of blending seasoned internationals with developed academy talent.
He becomes Celtic’s second summer signing after Kieran Tierney was officially confirmed last week. And now the second return!
Welcome home, Ross.
