Who will be in Celtic's squad for 'bigger and better' 2022-23 season?

Ange Postecoglou’s January recruits are settling in nicely, Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton confirmed their departures early on and automatic access to the Champions League group stage is secured meaning no risky qualifiers to navigate before decisions can be made about ins and outs.

Here, we assess who will leave Celtic, who will be key and how the squad might look as the team comes back 'bigger and better' in 2022-23. 

Goalkeepers

His own pitchside interview during the league title-winning celebrations revealed that Joe Hart knows competition for his position is likely to arrive this summer.

However, the English goalkeeper, contracted until 2024, surely begins next season as the team’s number one. He played the most minutes across all competitions, missing just three matches, and embraced the club with eager professionalism which matched Postecoglou’s blue-collar principles.

He’s not an ideal fit in terms of the manager’s playing style, and statistically only an average shot-stopper across the entirety of the season, but for his ability to pull off an instinctive moment of brilliance even at the age of 35 he merits continued faith while an heir is phased in.

Celtic failed to move Vasilis Barkas on during the January transfer window due to their financial demands but will surely increase their efforts this summer and, whether on loan or permanently, he is unlikely to be at the club next season. Scott Bain signed a contract extension to 2024 earlier this year and will be retained as a backup in part due to his homegrown status for European competition. 

Defenders

Few could have predicted that this season Anthony Ralston would play close to 4,000 minutes for Celtic and provide assists from open play in the league at a rate of one every third match.

The final fixture, against Motherwell, featured a quite brilliant set-up for Kyogo Furuhashi’s second goal and he’s been a remarkable testament to the benefits of a clearly defined playing style.

He is still limited on the ball in tight spaces, as a 16 per cent drop in completion when passing under pressure shows, and therefore the Champions League group games may be a challenge too far. Yet Ralston will remain, deservedly, one of the options at right-back next season.

As long as he doesn’t have to fill in on the left so frequently, with a contract running to 2026, the not quite as overtly impactful but more secure Josip Juranović is set to be Celtic’s starter in that position for 2022-23 and beyond.

Pressing gets the headlines when it comes to keeping opponents under the cosh but the Croatian has been a lowkey force - making almost three interceptions in every match and moving the ball into the final third nearly 10 times into the bargain.

On the left, Greg Taylor has played fourteen full 90s in the league since the start of the year and that consistent run has helped him end the season in excellent form. At 24 years old and with three years left on his contract, he’ll be a key squad member at Celtic in the upcoming campaign. It is likely he’ll have competition for the starting spot as Boli Bolingoli will surely finally depart and be replaced. 

Christopher Jullien, along with Bolingoli, is the last of the first-team squad with a contract due to expire in 2023. Uncertainty about his stylistic fit for Postecoglou and, sadly, doubts over his capability after such long-term injury mean he also is likely to leave this summer. 

One central defender that Celtic will attempt to keep beyond this season is Cameron Carter-Vickers. He has neatly side-stepped recent questions about his future but after playing excellently in over 4,000 minutes signing him on a permanent deal is a priority for the club.

Carl Starfelt played even more frequently - the most of any Celtic outfielder in the league - and at 27 and with three years left on his contract will be a vital figure next season even if left-footed competition arrives.

Less certain is the future of Stephen Welsh, whose substitute appearance in the final match was the first time he’d played in the league this calendar year. He’s contracted until 2025 and a loan next season seems the most likely outcome. 

READ MORE: The 'bit-part' Celtic players whose title contributions shouldn't be forgotten

Midfielders

Another player who has barely featured this calendar year is Ismaila Soro. He doesn’t fit the style of play under Postecoglou and a permanent move away, even if it may have to be after an initial season on loan to entice buyers, is sure to be arranged now.

Yosuke Ideguchi has played less than a game and a half across all competitions for Celtic since his arrival but, especially now that Bitton has departed, will likely have the opportunity to be a squad player next season. James McCarthy turns 32 in November and only started four league matches in 2021-22 but, contracted until 2025, is also likely to be retained as a backup. 

With 4,432 minutes across all club competitions, captain Callum McGregor was key this season and, as his defensive activity map illustrates, every second has been an active one in his pursuit of the title. He’ll certainly be a key figure in the attempt to return bigger and better next season. 

Celtic may attempt to recruit a new attacking midfielder in order to replace Rogic’s 2.57 successful dribbles and 0.24 expected assists per 90 and the existing options in this area of the pitch - David Turnbull, Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley - will all be important first-team regulars. 

Turnbull’s failure to start a league match from mid-December to early May due to injury has overshadowed the fact he played over 3,000 minutes in 2021-22 including a stretch of 14 full 90s in the league. It is likely that Celtic will address extending his contract, which runs to summer 2024, by Christmas. 

Hatate and O’Riley, both contracted until 2026, have played frequently since their arrival in January and should feature a lot next season. The latter’s unerring composure on the ball and combination of high-ranking creative and defensive stats will surely generate transfer interest but Celtic are well placed to resist for now. 

Wingers

Among the wingers, James Forrest has signed a contract extension from 2023 to 2025. Although he only started eight league matches this season and will be 31 years old this summer his retention, given the departures of Bitton and Rogic and his homegrown status for European competition, does make some sense.

However, another 2025-contracted player who might well depart is Mikey Johnston. He started just three league matches for Celtic this season and hasn’t played at all since the January transfer window closed. 

Liel Abada started a lot less frequently after that point too but, just 20 years old and contracted until 2026, delivered 0.54 expected goals and 0.28 expected assists per 90 this season and will be a key squad member moving forward.

Daizen Maeda’s loan becomes permanent this summer and he has already shown he’ll be an important player for Celtic. He started 13 of the 15 league matches since the beginning of February and has an xG per 90 comparable to Abada while also excelling off the ball with some monster counter-pressing numbers. 

Double figures for both goals and assists in under 30 league appearances, including three goals and six assists in the final 10 matches of the season, means persuading Jota to also join Celtic on a permanent basis is a must for the club.

A key factor for next season, as they participate in the Champions League group stage, will be having individuals who can deliver on a higher level and the Portuguese winger’s track record of either scoring or assisting in 80 per cent of his Europa League outings is promising. 

Strikers

Albian Ajeti has not played in the Hoops in 2022 and, with just two years left on his contract, will surely be moved on this summer. However, Celtic may have to accept a loan with an option to buy or a significant loss on their own outlay in order to make it happen.

His failure has been magnified by the success - eight goals in his last eight matches - of fellow centre forward Giorgos Giakoumakis.

Stylistically, Giakoumakis may not be the ideal starter for the majority of games next term but he has the base outputs - shooting at a rate of almost 3.5 per 90 with an average xG per shot of 0.20 - to be a very valuable squad member. 

The final key component of that squad is Kyogo Furuhashi. Injury meant he missed a large section of this season but his impact when he did play was undoubted with 20 goals across all competitions.

The Japanese forward ended the league campaign with an incredible 0.78 non-penalty xG per 90 and his movement, work-rate and ability to get on the end of high-quality chances means he’ll be hugely important in 2022-23.