Celtic’s summer planning is already beginning to take shape, and one key decision facing the club is whether to activate the one-year extension option in Kelechi Iheanacho’s contract.
The Nigerian forward joined Celtic last summer on a short-term deal that included the possibility of an extra year. At the time, it suited both sides — Celtic added experience in attack without a long-term commitment, while Iheanacho was given a platform to rebuild his form after leaving Leicester City.
Now, with the 2025/26 season nearing its conclusion, attention has turned to whether he has done enough to earn that extension.
A season of mixed impact
Iheanacho has shown flashes of quality during his time at Parkhead. His technical ability, awareness, and link-up play have been evident in spells, offering glimpses of the talent that once made him one of the most exciting young forwards in English football.
When fully fit, he has displayed intelligent movement and creativity in the final third, proving he can still be an effective attacking option.
However, those performances have lacked consistency, preventing him from securing a regular starting place.
One telling stat from Celtic’s campaign is that midfielder Benjamin Nygren currently leads the club’s Scottish Premiership scoring charts. For a team pushing for the title, that underlines a wider issue — a lack of consistent goal output from strikers.
This attacking inconsistency has been a recurring theme throughout the season.
Injuries disrupting rhythm
Fitness has also played a major role in Iheanacho’s stop-start campaign.
Injuries have limited his availability, making it difficult for him to build momentum or put together a sustained run of strong performances. Even when he has shown promise, setbacks have interrupted his progress.
For a club competing across multiple competitions, reliability is essential. Regular availability is especially important for attacking players, where rhythm and confidence often define performance levels.
Without that consistency, it becomes harder for the coaching staff to rely on him as a core part of their long-term plans.
A crucial summer ahead
Celtic are expected to strengthen their attack in the upcoming transfer window.
With a potential squad rebuild on the horizon — possibly alongside the appointment of a permanent successor to Martin O’Neill — the club is likely to target a striker capable of delivering goals on a consistent basis.
If new attacking reinforcements arrive, competition for places will intensify. In that scenario, the club may see little value in activating Iheanacho’s extension, particularly if they aim to reshape the squad with younger or more reliable options.
The likely outcome
Although the contract clause gives Celtic flexibility, current signs suggest the club could allow Iheanacho to move on at the end of the season.
Unless he delivers a strong finish to the campaign, the Hoops may decide their resources are better used elsewhere as they look to refresh their attacking options.
Short-term deals with extension clauses are often used as low-risk trials. Celtic have had the chance to assess Iheanacho without long-term obligation — and now the time is approaching for a final decision.
Based on his overall contribution so far, flashes of quality may not be enough to secure that additional year.