‘Iheanacho, not the answer’ – Ex-Aston Villa man urges Celtic to send Super Eagles star away

Kelechi Iheanacho’s future at Celtic remains uncertain despite the Nigerian striker playing a major role in the club’s dramatic Scottish Premiership title success, Afrik-Foot reports.

Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov believes the Hoops should move on from Iheanacho at the end of the season, even after the striker delivered several crucial goals during the title race.

The 29-year-old joined Celtic in September 2025 on a one-year contract after arriving as a free agent. His current deal expires at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, although the club still have the option to extend it by another 12 months.

Formal talks over his future are expected to begin after Celtic’s Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline Athletic.

Iheanacho endured a difficult first season at Parkhead because of recurring fitness problems, but he still became one of Celtic’s biggest heroes during the final weeks of the campaign.

The Nigerian scored five goals in his last eight league appearances, with every goal coming from the bench. His late winners against Dundee and Hibernian proved vital, while his dramatic 99th-minute penalty against Motherwell kept Celtic alive in the title race.

On the final day of the season against Heart of Midlothian, Celtic were trailing 1-0 before Iheanacho came on at half-time. The former Leicester City forward immediately changed the tempo of the match, hit the post during a dangerous second-half spell, and helped inspire Celtic’s comeback as the Hoops won 3-1 to secure their 56th league title.

His late-season form also saw him become the highest-scoring Nigerian in Celtic history with eight goals in all competitions, overtaking former defender Efe Ambrose, who scored six.

Petrov questions Iheanacho’s long-term future at Celtic

Despite Iheanacho’s impact, Petrov insists Celtic need a different type of striker if they want to continue competing at the highest level.

Speaking on The Scottish Football Social Club as per the Daily Record, the Bulgarian said: “Sorry, no. You need a striker who can compete all season, who is fit all season, who is ready, who is mobile.

“You know what? He’s done so well. For me, with what Celtic stands for, they have to go for something different. Something more powerful.

“That’s the way it is, unfortunately, at a big club. I don’t think Iheanacho is the answer for the future.”

Martin O’Neill has often preferred Japan international Daizen Maeda ahead of Iheanacho because of concerns surrounding the Nigerian’s fitness levels.

However, Iheanacho appears determined to prove himself before Saturday’s Scottish Cup final.

According to a video shared online by The Parkhead Faithful, the Super Eagles forward returned to training on Monday even though the Celtic squad had been given a rest day after clinching the league title.

The early return has been seen as a strong message to O’Neill and the coaching staff ahead of the cup final showdown with Dunfermline Athletic.

Now, after helping Celtic complete one of the most dramatic title comebacks in recent Scottish Premiership history, the Nigerian faces another important battle, that of convincing the club that he still deserves a future at Parkhead.