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Celtic announce new long-term contract for 25-year-old defender

Celtic announce new long-term contract for 25-year-old defender
© Reuters
Celtic announce that defender Liam Scales has signed a new four-year deal at the club that runs until 2028.

Celtic have announced that Liam Scales has signed a new four-year deal at the club that runs until 2028.

After spending the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Aberdeen, Scales has since become a mainstay in the Celtic side under Brendan Rodgers this term, starting 40 games in all competitions thus far.

Only goalkeeper Joe Hart (3,928) and midfielder Matt O'Riley (3.857) have played more minutes than Scales (3,630) for the Hoops so far this season, further emphasising his importance under Rodgers.

Celtic signed both Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke last summer following the departure of Carl Starfelt, but Scales has successfully established himself as a first-team regular in the heart of defence alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The 25-year-old centre-back joined Celtic back in August 2021 from Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers and made his first-team debut in a Scottish League Cup clash at home to Raith Rovers the following month.

Scales, a three-cap Republic of Ireland international, won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup in his first season at Celtic in 2021-22, and he is hoping to end the current campaign with two more pieces of silverware.

Scales commits future to "great" club Celtic

The defender was due to see his original deal expire in May 2025, but he has now decided to commit his future to the Hoops by putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract.

"I am delighted to agree this new contract and commit my future to Celtic," Scales told the club's official website.

"I have really enjoyed working under the gaffer, and with such a great group of players this year and I look forward to doing so again in the coming seasons.

"I love being part of this great club and I want to do all I can to contribute to Celtic and bring our fans as much success as we can."

Celtic currently sit top of the Scottish Premiership table and three points ahead of rivals Rangers with four games left to play.

Scales is expected to play in the Hoops' remaining fixtures against Hearts - on Saturday - Rangers, Kilmarnock and St Mirren before gearing up for an Old Firm Scottish Cup final on May 25.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
CCeltic440092286490
2RangersRangers430184295584
3Hearts412151391267
4Kilmarnock41124543255
5St Mirren41124449-547
6Dundee40044867-1941
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen44004650-447
2Hibernian42025158-745
3Motherwell42025557-243
4Ross County41123665-2934
5St Johnstone40132753-2632
RLivingston42022869-4124
 
First Phase
CCeltic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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