Kelechi Iheanacho: Why Super Eagles star has Celtic hopes renewed with Martin O’Neill decision

Kelechi Iheanacho’s hopes of extending his stay at Celtic have received a significant boost following the club’s decision to hand Martin O’Neill a permanent contract, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles striker joined the Scottish champions in September 2025 on a one-year deal after leaving Sevilla as a free agent. His contract is due to expire on June 30, 2026, although Celtic retain the option of extending the agreement by another 12 months.

After helping the Hoops secure a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double, Iheanacho has made no secret of his desire to remain at Parkhead. The Nigerian forward has repeatedly stated that he would like to continue his journey in Glasgow and is now waiting for the club’s hierarchy to make a final decision on his future.

The 29-year-old currently earns around £35,000 per week, with performance-related bonuses capable of increasing the overall value of his contract. Discussions over whether Celtic will activate the extension clause are expected to intensify during the summer transfer window.

O’Neill’s appointment changes Iheanacho’s prospects

One of the biggest factors working in Iheanacho’s favour is the appointment of Martin O’Neill as Celtic’s permanent manager.

The experienced coach guided Celtic to a domestic double during his spell in charge and showed considerable faith in Iheanacho, particularly during the second half of the season. O’Neill regularly turned to the Nigerian in crucial moments, using him as an impact substitute when matches became tight.

That trust paid off. Iheanacho scored several decisive goals, including a dramatic late penalty against Motherwell, a match-winning strike away to Hibernian and an important goal in the Scottish Cup final. His performances transformed him into a fan favourite despite spending much of the campaign coming off the bench.

The structure of O’Neill’s contract could also help Iheanacho. The manager has signed a one-year deal with an option for a further season, a timeline that closely mirrors the striker’s own contract situation. With O’Neill seeking stability and continuity ahead of another title challenge and European campaign, retaining a proven goalscorer may be viewed as a sensible move.

Strong finish gives Iheanacho a platform for more

Iheanacho’s statistics from the 2025-26 season reveal why Celtic may decide to keep him. The Nigerian scored nine goals and supplied one assist across all competitions despite limited playing time. In the Scottish Premiership alone, he netted five times in just 489 minutes, producing one of the best goals-per-minute records in the division.

His most memorable contributions came during the title run-in. He struck twice after coming off the bench in a 6-2 victory over St Mirren in April, scored the winner against Hibernian in May, found the net again against Motherwell and rounded off the league season with a goal against Dunfermline.

Those performances demonstrated his ability to influence matches in short bursts, but Iheanacho’s next challenge is convincing O’Neill that he can deliver over a full 90 minutes. The former Manchester City and Leicester City forward has already begun specialised fitness work ahead of pre-season as he aims to push for a regular starting role.

With O’Neill now firmly in charge and the board preparing key squad decisions, Iheanacho’s chances of remaining at Celtic appear stronger than they have at any point since he arrived in Scotland.