Mikey Johnston's time at Celtic looks set to finally come to an end, with the club agreeing a £2.5million deal to sell the winger to Sheffield United.
A product of the Celtic academy, Johnston looked like a huge promising player after first breaking into the first team at Parkhead. However, he would never quite manage to nail down a place in the side.
His playing time would be further curtailed on the back of some serious injuries, one of which kept him out for the best part of a year. Johnston would go on to spend time on loan at the likes of Vitoria and West Brom during recent campaigns, impressing at the latter in the second half of last season.
With the player not part of Brendan Rodgers' first team plans at Celtic, he was always likely to be moved on this summer. However, it seems some aspects of this deal have split opinion among the club's supporters.
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Opinion Split Among Celtic Fans Over Aspect Of Mikey Johnston Sale
Celtic will bring in a fee of £2.5million for the sale of Mikey Johnston, a figure that divided opinion.
Some believe that the club should have commanded a higher amount for his services, especially considering his form last season and status as an Ireland international.
Good luck to him - he needs the move - but that seems low for someone who did well last year for West Brom - not many wingers in that league you could buy for that price and he’s a full international- feels like we are in ‘clear-out’ mode but not his fault.
— Mitch Rapp (@rappmitch178) August 27, 2024
should be a little higher considering what he did last season in the championship
— d (@19l67) August 27, 2024
So our board fork out 9 million for Idah on the basis he is an internationalist and scored goals in his loan deal, but they sell Mikey Johnston for 2.5 when he’s done the exact same in a better league. They are so incompetent. Get them to fuck
— Robert Wozniak (@RobertWozniakFc) August 27, 2024
That would be a poor fee for someone who did so well in the Championship last season. I would have thought 4m might be more market rate.
— Niall O' Shea (@niallosha) August 27, 2024
At this best, Mikey Johnston is certainly worth quite a bit more than the above figure. Of course, remaining consistent and injury free has been an obstacle to that goal in recent times.
As a result, quite a few Celtic fans cannot understand the complaints about the transfer fee the club have managed to recoup for the player.
The Mikey Johnston myth is finally coming to an end. A talented young player but simply didn’t have what it takes to be a regular, consistent player for Celtic. Hopefully he kicks on and makes a good career for himself.
— Stand up for Celtic (@StandForCeltic) August 27, 2024
Mikey Johnston isn’t a loss. He had a good start and because he was new he took the opposition by surprise. When he got found out his goal contributions dried up.
If he’d stayed consistent to the end I’d want him but £2.5mill is a lot for us right now and a gamble #wba— Maybedoc (@MaybedocI) August 27, 2024
Getting £2.5m for Mikey Johnston is arguably a more impressive piece of business by Celtic than the £25m+ for Matt O’Riley. https://t.co/dkzPWZbM5F
— Scott (@SMcCue83) August 27, 2024
Peter lawwell after securing 2.5 million to never use pic.twitter.com/a4UFBOjr0G
— Lewis/DM38 🍀 (@CelticBhoy41) August 27, 2024
Only time will tell as to whether this fee will prove to be good value for the clubs involved, with Celtic seemingly happy to bring in a decent chunk of change for a player who was not part of their long-term plans.
As for Sheffield United, they will have nabbed themselves quite a bargain if Mikey Johnston can replicate his West Brom form from last season on a consistent basis.
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