Two reasons Kelechi Iheanacho has yet to agree to new Celtic contract

Despite Celtic’s optimism and Martin O’Neill’s public statement, Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho has yet to commit his future to the Scottish champions, Afrik Foot reports.

The 29-year-old has been offered a new two-year contract after helping Celtic secure a domestic double last season, but an agreement remains elusive.

While talks are ongoing, there are at least two major reasons behind Iheanacho’s hesitation.

Why Kelechi Iheanacho hasn’t signed his Celtic contract

1. Uncertainty over his role after Camilo Duran’s arrival

Celtic’s decision to sign Colombian striker Camilo Duran could significantly influence Iheanacho’s thinking.

The 22-year-old immediately impressed supporters by scoring on his debut against Sporting CP and has already been tipped as one of the club’s long-term attacking projects.

Although Iheanacho enjoyed a productive campaign, much of his impact came from the bench. Injuries restricted his starts, and he was often used as an impact substitute rather than a guaranteed first-choice striker.

🇨🇴✍️ We are delighted to announce that Camilo Durán has joined the club on a five-year deal, subject to international clearance.

Welcome to Celtic, Camilo 💚#BienvenidoCamilo | #CelticFC🍀

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 10, 2026

At 29, the Nigerian international may feel this is not the ideal stage of his career to continue fighting for limited minutes.

Regular football remains essential if he is to retain his relevance in Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles plans, especially with competition intensifying from Victor Osimhen, Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and several other attackers in Nigeria’s stacked team.

With Champions League football and AFCON 2027 on the horizon, Iheanacho is likely assessing whether Celtic can offer him a clearly defined role rather than another season as a rotational option. The arrival of Duran only increases those concerns.

2. Interest from elsewhere could offer something better.

Another significant factor is the growing interest in Iheanacho from abroad. Clubs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar remain attentive to his situation, while opportunities in Turkey and Major League Soccer cannot be completely ruled out.

Financially, Celtic’s proposal is attractive, but it may not match what some Middle Eastern clubs are capable of offering.

More importantly, those destinations could potentially provide longer contracts, greater guarantees regarding playing time and perhaps one final major paycheck before the striker enters the latter stages of his career.

Given that Iheanacho will turn 30 in October, this could realistically be one of the final major contract decisions of his professional career.

The former Manchester City forward, therefore, has every reason to carefully weigh all available options before making a commitment.

Why Celtic still remain favourites

Despite the delay, Celtic still possess huge advantages. Iheanacho rediscovered his confidence in Glasgow after difficult spells at Leicester City, Sevilla and Middlesbrough. He remains highly regarded by Martin O’Neill, enjoys strong support from the fanbase and has the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Champions League.

Furthermore, continuity could prove beneficial from an international perspective, as regular involvement in European competition would strengthen his chances of remaining an important figure for Nigeria.

As revealed by Celts are here, Martin O’Neill revealed he’s positive about what the outcome of the offer would be, hinting that both parties appear keen to continue the relationship.

“We’re trying to come to some sort of agreement with Iheanacho. I’m very hopeful (about Iheanacho),” the 74-year-old said.

However, until Iheanacho receives complete clarity regarding his role and fully evaluates external interest, his future at Parkhead is likely to remain unresolved.